Top 15 Nonprofits in Boston Helping with Rent, Food, and Bills in 2027
Greater Boston rent is among the highest in the country, and a New England winter can push heating bills past what most budgets can handle. If you're behind on rent, staring at a shutoff notice, or stretching groceries thin, you're not alone, and there's real help across the region.
This guide covers the whole metro: Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Essex counties in Massachusetts, plus Strafford County in southern New Hampshire. We focused on nonprofits with structured help for rent, heating and utility bills, food, and free eviction legal aid.
Many programs serve specific cities and towns, and winter heating help runs on a set season. Call early, ask what's open right now, and keep your ID, lease, and bills ready. Details reflect what each organization publishes as of October 2026.
How We Chose These Nonprofits in Boston
We included 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including faith-based charities like Catholic Charities and Lazarus House. Each one serves the metro, runs a structured aid program, and publishes clear contact info. We ranked them on Impact, Accessibility, Reputation, Transparency, and Equity (serving people regardless of faith, status, or background).
We gave extra weight to rent and heating help, not just food, and spread picks across the metro's counties. We did not use Google ratings; trust signals come from each organization's own published information as of October 2026.
1. Metro Housing|Boston
The RAFT hub for Boston-area renters facing eviction or a shutoff.
Primary assistance: RAFT emergency funds for overdue rent, utilities, and moving costs
Best for: Low-income renters in Boston and nearby communities facing a housing emergency
How to get help: Resource Line 617-425-6700; Monday walk-ins at 1411 Tremont St., Boston; RAFT info
RAFT can provide up to $7,000 per household in a 12-month period. Monday walk-ins start at 9 a.m. until daily capacity is reached, and Tuesday–Thursday visits need an appointment.
Trust signals: Founded in 1983; posts annual reports and financials.
2. Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)
Boston's anti-poverty agency and fuel assistance provider.
Primary assistance: Home Energy Assistance (fuel assistance), heating emergencies
Best for: Renters and homeowners in Boston, Brookline, Newton, and the Mystic Valley
How to get help: Boston, Brookline, Newton 617-357-6012; Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, Woburn 781-322-6284; bostonabcd.org
The heating season runs November 1 through April 30, and household income must be at or below 60% of the state median. ABCD pays your fuel vendor or utility directly.
Trust signals: Central office at 178 Tremont St., Boston; applications accepted online, by phone, or at intake sites.
3. Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
Free civil legal help, including eviction defense.
Primary assistance: Eviction and housing cases, benefits, immigration, and other civil legal help
Best for: Low-income residents of Boston and dozens of surrounding cities and towns
How to get help: Intake 617-371-1234 or 800-323-3205; check if you qualify
Intake counselors speak several languages and use interpreters. The main office is at 197 Friend St., Boston.
Trust signals: Helps regardless of immigration status; publishes its town-by-town service area.
4. Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston
Emergency fuel, rent, and utility help plus food pantries.
Primary assistance: Emergency fuel, rental, and utility assistance; food pantries; SNAP help
Best for: Families with a shutoff notice, eviction summons, or notice to quit
How to get help: Brockton 617-506-6600; Lynn 617-451-7930; Salem 617-464-8071; apply online
People with shutoff notices or eviction court summonses get priority. Financial help isn't guaranteed because funding is limited.
Trust signals: Serving the region since 1903.
5. Community Teamwork
RAFT and rental help for Greater Lowell and the Merrimack Valley.
Primary assistance: RAFT, rental assistance, emergency shelter, fuel and energy programs
Best for: Renters in Greater Lowell, Greater Lawrence, and the Merrimack Valley
How to get help: RAFT information 978-459-0551; commteam.org
It's one of eight state Regional Administering Agencies for rental assistance and covers 43 cities and towns.
Trust signals: Established in 1965; serves over 60,000 people a year.
6. Self Help, Inc.
Heating help for the South Shore and Plymouth County area.
Primary assistance: Home Energy Assistance, energy conservation, SNAP application help
Best for: Residents of 31 cities and towns in Plymouth, Norfolk, and Bristol counties
How to get help: Walk in Monday–Thursday, 8:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m., at 780 W. Main St., Avon; 508-588-5440; selfhelpinc.org
Call ahead to get the list of documents to bring with your application.
Trust signals: Founded in 1965; serves more than 15,000 households a year.
7. Interfaith Social Services
Overdue rent help and a food pantry on the South Shore.
Primary assistance: HomeSafe rent help, budget counseling, food pantry
Best for: Residents of Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Milton, Randolph, and nearby towns
How to get help: Rent help 617-773-6203 ext. 16, Monday–Thursday at 9 a.m.; 105 Adams St., Quincy; interfaithsocialservices.org
The pantry is open weekdays 9:30 a.m.–noon, with Wednesday evening slots by appointment.
Trust signals: Helping neighbors since 1947; volunteers gave 16,000+ hours last year.
8. North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP)
Rent arrears, utility, and heating help on the North Shore.
Primary assistance: Rental arrears help, past-due utility help, Home Energy Assistance
Best for: Low-income residents of Peabody, Salem, Beverly, and Danvers
How to get help: 978-531-0767; 119 Rear Foster St., Peabody; nscap.org
Households with utility delinquency notices may qualify for help with past-due bills, deposits, or oil deliveries. Help is limited to available funding.
Trust signals: Runs the regional heating assistance program for its service area.
9. LEO Inc. (Lynn Economic Opportunity)
Lynn's community action agency for heat and rent help.
Primary assistance: Home Energy Assistance, limited rent and mortgage arrears help, senior food distribution
Best for: Greater Lynn households behind on rent or heating bills
How to get help: 781-581-7220; 181 Union St., Suite 209, Lynn; leoinc.org
Rent help requires a current 14-day notice, proof you can keep up after assistance, and a landlord who agrees not to evict.
Trust signals: Partners with the Greater Boston Food Bank; posts an annual report.
10. Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC)
Fuel help for Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.
Primary assistance: Home Energy Assistance for heating bills and past-due utility balances
Best for: Renters and homeowners in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop
How to get help: Heating emergencies (617) 874-7160; online application at capicinc.org
Applications for the 2026–2027 season open soon. Don't email documents with personal information.
Trust signals: Chartered in 1967; nearly six decades of anti-poverty work.
11. Northeast Legal Aid
Free eviction help for Essex County and northern Middlesex County.
Primary assistance: Eviction defense, repairs, lockouts, and utility shutoff cases
Best for: Low-income and elderly residents of Essex and northern Middlesex counties
How to get help: 978-458-1465, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; online request form
Seniors 60 and older don't have to meet financial eligibility rules. Apply well before your court date.
Trust signals: Three offices; requests accepted online in English and Spanish.
12. The Greater Boston Food Bank
The region's largest hunger-relief group, with 600+ partner pantries.
Primary assistance: Food through partner pantries and meal programs, SNAP application help
Best for: Anyone in Eastern Massachusetts who needs groceries
How to get help: SNAP help 617-598-5022; find food near you
Enter your address in the partner locator to find pantries across 190 cities and towns.
Trust signals: Distributed 107 million pounds of food last year.
13. Project Bread FoodSource Hotline
A free statewide hotline for food help and SNAP.
Primary assistance: SNAP screening and application help, pantry and meal referrals
Best for: Anyone in Massachusetts who needs food or help with SNAP
How to get help: Call or text 1-800-645-8333; projectbread.org
Counselors answer Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., in 180 languages.
Trust signals: Free and confidential calls.
14. Lazarus House Ministries
Food, shelter, and support in Lawrence.
Primary assistance: Food, shelter, clothing, and support services
Best for: Lawrence-area families facing homelessness or food insecurity
How to get help: Main office (978) 689-8575; lazarushouse.org
Lazarus House serves about 2,000 people each week and treats every guest with dignity.
Trust signals: Serving the community since 1983; posts an annual report.
15. Community Action Partnership of Strafford County
Fuel and electric help for southern New Hampshire.
Primary assistance: Fuel assistance, electric bill assistance, food pantries
Best for: Strafford County, NH households struggling with heating or electric costs
How to get help: (603) 435-2500; 577 Central Ave., Suite 10, Dover; straffordcap.org
Reach out even if you're unsure you qualify. Staff can talk through unusual circumstances.
Trust signals: Put $2.8 million toward local fuel needs in the 2025–2026 winter.
Other Important Helplines and Resources in Boston
211: Dial 211 or search Mass 211; New Hampshire residents can use 211 NH.
DTA Connect: Apply for SNAP and cash assistance in Massachusetts at dtaconnect.com.
MassLegalHelp: Free legal information on evictions and tenant rights at masslegalhelp.org.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Money stress is heavy. Call or text 988 any time, or visit 988lifeline.org.
Related Guides
Looking for more options in and around Boston? These guides cover churches and nonprofits helping with rent, food, and utility bills:
Closing Thoughts
Falling behind in Greater Boston doesn't mean you messed up. Rent, heat, and groceries are stacking up for a lot of families. Pick two or three groups from this list that serve your town, call early, and keep copies of your ID, lease, and bills ready.
If you've been served eviction papers, call legal aid the same day. You deserve help, and asking for it is a power move.
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