Based on what we heard, we gathered a list of more than 40 community resources for building wealth and financial literacy.<\/p>\n
Do you have suggestions for resources we should add to this guide? Email us at mpi@globe.com.<\/p>\n
Financial coaching, resources, and education<\/p>\n
Action for Boston Community Development Tax Assistance <\/b><\/p>\n
For those who meet requirements, ABCD provides free tax preparation<\/p>\n
Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Center for Working Families<\/b><\/p>\n A program that provides coaching and information on credit and asset building<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Tax Help Coalition <\/b><\/p>\n The city offers free tax preparation for Boston area residents who meet income requirements<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Enrich <\/b><\/p>\n The Massachusetts State Treasurer\u2019s office has an online personal financial education platform<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Financial empowerment programming at the Boston Public Library <\/b><\/p>\n Different groups hold financial workshops on various topics<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Green Space Financial Coaching <\/b><\/p>\n A program within Metro Housing Boston that provides in-person and virtual workshops<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Jewish Vocational Service <\/b><\/p>\n Offers free financial coaching and education workshops<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Worth & Wealth Seminars <\/b><\/p>\n Massachusetts offers free financial education webinars in partnership with Citizens <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Financial literacy for kids<\/p>\n Financial Literacy Reading Lists<\/b><\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 Office of Economic Empowerment offers suggestions for age-appropriate books for children<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Youth Engaged in Action <\/b><\/p>\n A free summer program within ABCD that teaches 13-year-olds about financial wellness<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Young Man With a Plan<\/b><\/p>\n A mentorship program for Black and Latino boys that teaches financial literacy<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Jewish Vocational Service <\/b><\/p>\n The organization offers free access to career coaches<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center <\/b><\/p>\n Provides free onsite and virtual career coaching<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n SkillUp Coalition <\/b><\/p>\n A nonprofit that offers free online career coaching <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Entrepreneurship and business ownership<\/p>\n We Are ALX <\/b><\/p>\n A nonprofit that supports the state\u2019s Latino business owners through initiatives, including a business program<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Asian Business Empowerment Council <\/b><\/p>\n A council within the Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation that works to amplify the voices of the state\u2019s AAPI business community<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Black Economic Council of Massachusetts <\/b><\/p>\n A nonprofit that works to grow equity and build wealth for Black-owned businesses and communities in Massachusetts<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Ujima Project <\/b><\/p>\n An organization that supports business ventures in Boston\u2019s communities of color<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Latino Equity Fund <\/b><\/p>\n A fund under the umbrella of the Boston Foundation that provides grants to Latino-serving nonprofit organizations across the state<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n New Commonwealth Fund <\/b><\/p>\n A fund that provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving Black and Latino communities in the state<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Community Legal Aid <\/b><\/p>\n Offers pro bono attorneys for civil legal matters for Central and Western Massachusetts residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n FreeWill <\/b><\/p>\n Offers free tools for estate planning, including for wills and durable financial power of attorney<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Greater Boston Legal Services <\/b><\/p>\n Provides free civil legal representation for Greater Boston residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Free Legal Answers <\/b><\/p>\n Website users can get their civil legal questions answered by pro bono attorneys<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Mass Legal Help <\/b><\/p>\n Provides free information about legal rights for topics, including debt collection and health insurance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder <\/b><\/p>\n Shares information on legal matters, such as evictions, unemployment benefits, and wills<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Volunteer Lawyers Project <\/b><\/p>\n Free civil legal assistance for matters such as family law, bankruptcy, and powers of attorney<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n ABCD: Housing Counseling Services, Foreclosure Prevention, and Rental Assistance <\/b><\/p>\n Provides help to residents in select cities with finding housing and preventing evictions and foreclosures<\/p>\n Housing Counseling Services<\/a><\/p>\n Foreclosure Prevention<\/a><\/p>\n Rental Assistance<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Metrolist <\/b><\/p>\n Where to find income-restricted housing in the city<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Office of Housing Stability <\/b><\/p>\n The city connects residents with resources, such as shelters and affordable housing units<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program <\/b><\/p>\n Massachusetts gives short-term emergency funding to residents at risk of losing housing<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s First-Time Homebuyer Program <\/b><\/p>\n The city gives down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Housing Authority First Home Program <\/b><\/p>\n The city provides BHA residents with down payment assistance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Gloucester\u2019s First Time Homebuyer program <\/b><\/p>\n The city offers help with down payments and closing costs<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n New Bedford\u2019s First-Time Homebuyer Program <\/b><\/p>\n The city offers help with down payments, closing costs, and interest rate buydown<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n ONE Mortgage Program <\/b><\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 affordable mortgage program for low- and moderate-income families<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Worcester\u2019s Housing and Neighborhood Grants <\/b><\/p>\n The city offers homebuyers down payment assistance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Affordable child care options<\/p>\n Child Care Choices of Boston <\/b><\/p>\n A program within ABCD that helps match families in Boston and surrounding suburbs to affordable child care providers<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Child Care Financial Assistance Programs <\/b><\/p>\n Massachusetts offers help with paying for child care for residents who meet eligibility criteria<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Great Starts <\/b><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Citywide Enrollment Platform with information on center-based child care providers, family child care providers, and pre-K<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 Department of Early Education and Care has a Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative<\/a> that works with public school districts and community organizations to increase preschool offerings.<\/p>\n The initiative is being implemented in the following: <\/p>\n Planning is underway for the initiative in the following: <\/p>\n All Massachusetts school districts offer some public preschool, according to the state. Check your district for options.<\/p>\n BabySteps <\/b><\/p>\n A state program that gives $50 to Massachusetts families toward a child\u2019s education <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Saves<\/b><\/p>\n A city program that gives $50 to Boston Public Schools K2 kindergarteners whose parents start a financial account<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Level Up <\/b><\/p>\n An ABCD program that provides tuition assistance to eligible Boston adults who are 18 to 24<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Evening Therapy Associates <\/b><\/p>\n Offers sliding scale and pro bono therapy services to Massachusetts residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Community Services Institute <\/b><\/p>\n Provides in-person and virtual therapy options in Greater Boston and Western Massachusetts<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Health Resources and Services Administration\u2019s health center finder <\/b><\/p>\n An online database that includes health centers across the country<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Department of Mental Health <\/b><\/p>\n The state has a help line to connect callers with clinicians <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n We Rise Collective <\/b><\/p>\n A nonprofit specializing in affordable therapy for women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n This story was produced by the Globe\u2019s Money, Power, Inequality<\/a> team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. You can sign up for the newsletter here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n
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