Board of Commissioners' Meeting

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

4:30 PM

90 Longwood Avenue, Brookline

Members of the public are also invited to join the meeting via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82947488886?pwd=DcfwDHaj6299bZtjtXHU3EO8LO37rl.1

Meeting ID: 829 4748 8886

Passcode: 365404

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The Brookline Housing Authority is currently monitoring the Coronavirus situation and will keep residents updated with relevant information on this page. Please check this page for updates specific to BHA response and procedures.

The BHA will continue to operate and provide services safely to our residents and program participants. The BHA offices are closed except to emergency personnel. All non-emergency BHA staff are continuing to work remotely as effectively as possible. Staff can still be reached via email and are checking work voicemails remotely.

The BHA Leased Housing and Admissions offices have updated procedures until further notice.
  • If you are a BHA resident or voucher participant and have had a change in income due to COVID-19, you may contact our office to request an Interim Recertification at 617-277-2022 or email your leasing or property manager directly.
  • All in person consultations are canceled.
  • Section 8 applicants and customers can continue to reach staff via email and send documents via fax and US postal mail.
  • All Section 8 appointments must be confirmed by the Director of Leased Housing and Admissions.

The BHA maintenance emergency work line remains open at (617)-277-1884. Please consider the urgency of your maintenance need while calling in a request. All BHA maintenance personnel are taking significant precautions to minimize exposure to COVID-19. If maintenance staff must enter your apartment to address an emergency work order, it is likely they have interacted with other BHA apartment units.

The BHA delivered a letter to the front door of every resident's apartment on March 12, 2020. This letter contained information regarding the Coronavirus and BHA's response and procedures. The document can also be accessed below.

Community and Health Resources

The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) of Massachusetts aims to advance and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. To understand the needs of persons with disabilities during COVID-19, DPC has developed a survey. If you are a person with a disability, please take this survey. This information will help DPC to make sure that healthcare providers and state/ local governments make decisions to address COVID-19, that include the needs of people with disabilities. Everything you say will be kept confidential.

Brookline Food Pantry
15 St. Paul St.
Wednesday: 3 PM - 6 PM
Thursday: 11 AM - 2 PM
55A Egmont St., Community Room
Thursday: 3 PM - 7 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 1 PM
226 High St., Community Room
(follow Family Learning Center signs)
Tuesday: 3 PM - 7 PM
Brookline Thrives (food bags for children)
Friday: 3 – 5PM @ 226 High St., Community Room
(follow Family Learning Center signs):
Food Delivery for elderly and/or frail residents:

Write an email to Chanin@brooklinefoodpantry.org with the subject line: “Needs Home Delivery.” Include name and age of Head of Household, total number of people living in household and ages of all household members. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY.

For additional information, please contact the Brookline Food Pantry:
617-566-4953 | chanin@brooklinefoodpantry.org
www.brooklinefoodpantry.org/need-groceries.html
Free and Reduced Lunch for Brookline Students

During the temporary closure of the Public Schools of Brookline, students who qualify for free or reduced price meals will be offered meals at no cost through the district’s online student ordering system.

Students 18 and under can access grab and go prepared meals at one of four locations -- Coolidge Corner School (CCS), Pierce School, Brookline High School and Baker School -- three days per week. See the table below to determine when and where you should pick up meals:

Families that qualify for free or reduced meals can use publicschoolsofbrooklineschoolnutrition.com to place orders ahead of time through the Out of School Ordering System. The website also has step-by-step instructions on how to place an order online.

Due to the Coronavirus, Brookline tax preparation drop ins have been canceled. Brookline tax preparation sites have authorization from the Internal Revenue Service to implement a virtual delivery method for tax preparation instead. To limit the number of taxpayers that need to come to the buildings for income tax preparation all tax forms can be:
  • Scanned and emailed to us at: mail@cfmp.us
  • Faxed to: 617-433-1898
  • Or mailed to: 9 Sylvan Road, Norton, MA 02766

The Intake/Interview Review Sheet Form for tax preparation (IRS Form 13614) can be downloaded at the Internal Revenue Service website (irs.gov). If you can, please print, complete and send this form, and a scan of your health insurance card with your documents. If you can’t, we will get this information over email or phone instead.

When you contact us please include your phone number, mailing address, and email. All tax forms will be completed and sent back for your review and approval before we can e file.
CONTACT:
Email: mail@cfmp.us
Fax: 617-433-1898
Telephone: 855-687-7345

Contact: Jacqueline Lara, Next Steps Program Director, jlara@brookline.org, (617) 566-6011

The Safety Net Fund provides emergency financial assistance to Brookline residents in need to maintain stability during difficult times. The Safety Net Fund is a program of the Brookline Community Foundation and administered by the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. Examples of needs covered include:
  • Rental assistance
  • Moving costs - in or out of Brookline
  • Utility payments with shut off notice
  • Beds/mattresses/mattress covers
  • Refrigerators and air conditioners
  • Apartment cleaning/supplies for unsanitary or pest situations
  • Medical and dental bills
  • Gift cards for food, toiletries, school supplies, t-passes, and clothing
Contact the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health at 617-277-8107 (ask for Safety Net)
Email: safetynet@brooklinecenter.org

The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health now offers mental health counseling via online video conferencing. If you need a consultation about whether therapy makes sense or a general question which you'd like answered confidentially or to request an appointment, please call 617-277-8107, ask for the intake line, and leave a message. Please have your health insurance card ready.
Email: intake@brooklinecenter.org

The Brookline Police Department (BPD) is continuing to support victims of domestic abuse. ALL MEMBERS of the BPD are trained to respond to calls involving domestic violence and abuse. BPD has the ability to teleconference with judges and clerks to assist Brookline residents who are in need of emergency restraining orders or harassment prevention orders any time of day or night. To reach the BPD call (617)-730-2222 or 911 in an emergency.

The BPD's Domestic Violence Advocate, Doreen Gallagher, LCSW, can be reached at (617)-730-2713. Please know that her number is NOT monitored 24/7 and should not be used to report an emergency situation.

If you don’t want to call BPD, SAFELINK is a resource that is available nationwide, 24/7 by calling 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Their website, https://www.thehotline.org/ includes a “chat” option if you’re unable to speak freely or prefer to communicate by text.

Additional domestic violence resources

New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax. Apply by April 30, 2020. All public housing residents are pre-qualified.
  • Learn more and sign up https://www.internetessentials.com/
  • Or call 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376)
If you need help accessing these or other resources, please contact your Property Manager or Springwell Care Coordinator. Visit the Contact page for details.