Emergency Financial Assistance

Emergency Financial Assistance
The Center for Family Assistance manages several emergency funds to assist people with low-income in regaining their economic stability. Financial assistance is available primarily for housing costs, moving expenses, fuel, and utilities.

Fuel and Utility Assistance Program
By providing comprehensive resource information, intensive advocacy, and, in some cases, strategically applied emergency financial assistance, we help families resolve fuel and energy crises. In addition, we often connect them to other sources of support including discount plans, heating resources, and financial assistance from government and private resources.

Hebrew Free Burial
A fund to ensure that low income families are able to provide a Jewish burial for their loved ones.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Fund
We offer financial assistance for costs associated with a Bar/Bat Mitzvah including tutor, tallit, outfit, room rental, or Kiddush.

Holiday Gift Card Drive
We provide gift cards for our clients with children to enable them to purchase a holiday toy for their child/children.

Camp Scholarship Fund
Ensures that children whose families are struggling economically have the opportunity to attend summer camp.

With financial support and in collaboration with CJP, JF&CS has been making interest-free loans for many years for Jewish life cycle events, adoption, home repairs, and car purchase. We have expanded the categories that a loan can be used for and increased the amount of the loans.

Categories of loans:

•    NEW COVID-19 Recovery: To assist in economic stability from the impact of the coronavirus
•    Bridge Loans: Small loans for living expenses during a short period of time
•    Lifecycle Ceremonies: Bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, or funerals
•    Summer Camp, Gap Year, and Teen and Young Adult Israel Experiences
•    New baby, fertility, adoption, or extension of maternity or paternity leave
•    Car purchase or repairs
•    Home repairs
•    Move-in costs (first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposit)
•    Healthcare not covered by insurance
•    Care of older adults or people with disabilities
•    Self-employed small business costs
•    Small debt consolidation

Loans are available from $1,000 - $10,000 to households of moderate income. During this time, people who are temporarily unable to work and/or are receiving unemployment insurance are invited to explore whether the interest-free loan will meet their needs. Residency in the Greater Boston community and a complete loan application are required. Please contact us by phone at 781-693-1255 or email cjploan@jfcsboston.org.

Max Rosenfeld Loan provides interest-free loans for the education, skill-building, and/or training of Jewish women living in Greater Boston for the purpose of expanding their employment opportunities. Applicants must be enrolling in a course, workshop, training, or program with the goal of increasing earning potential or employment opportunities. Programs offered by academic institutions must be accredited. Loan amounts are between $1,000 - $4,000.