Rental, Fuel, and Other Assistance Available for Acton Residents

The following resources and programs are available for Acton residents.

Holiday Assistance for Individuals & Families

Local support is available to assist individuals & families during the holiday season. Please reach out to the Community Services Office for more information.

Acton Boxborough United Way (ABUW) Assist Grants

If you are a resident and need emergency help to pay rent and other essential bills, we can help. Emergency grants up to $1,000 are available to eligible residents. 

Rental Assistance

The Housing Consumer and Education Center (HCEC) through South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) in Framingham is the agency that administers state and federally funded homelessness prevention grants including:

• Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency grant (FEMA)
• Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Eligibility Requirements 

• Households of any size or composition at risk of being displaced or forced to leave their home due to an unforeseen housing emergency or a COVID-19 related employment loss.
• The household income must be below 80% of the area median income (AMI)
• Restrictions apply on rental assistance for families residing in subsidized housing or who have a rental voucher
• For most of this funding, citizenship or immigration status is not an issue.

Financial assistance is limited based on funding, eligibility, and service area. To apply for any of the above programs please click here https://www.smoc.org/housing-consumer-education-center.php

Fuel Assistance Programs

Low Income Heat Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a government-sponsored program that is administered through SMOC in Framingham.

• Households must have income at or below 60% of the state median income   
• Benefit covers heating costs such as oil, propane, electric, and natural gas for both renters and homeowners for the winter heating season

Good Neighbor Energy Fund -The Good Neighbor Energy Fund is sponsored through the Salvation Army. 

• Assists households with incomes within 60-80% of the state median income 
• Applicants must not be eligible for other fuel assistance programs
• Benefit covers oil, propane, electric, and natural gas and provides a 1x grant of $500 for both renters and homeowners

For more information or to apply for any of these programs please contact the Community Services Office @ 978-929-6651 or lducharme@actonma.gov.

Additional resource information is available here