COVID-19 Community Resources

Supporting our community and each other during this crisis is imperative. Our COVID-19 Community ResourcesYarmouth Town Seal Image page is dedicated to providing local community programs, initiatives and assistance to help our community members young and old through these difficult times. Please check back on this page often and share with others.

Please also visit our Yarmouth COVID-19 Communication Page for all Town & Health Advisory updates as well as our Business & Employee Assistance Programs Page for information dedicated to business and unemployment options.

See further down on this page for important Housing Assistance & Resources.

Town of Yarmouth

COVID-19 RELIEF PROGRAM

The Town of Yarmouth COVID-19 Relief Program provides assistance to eligible residents and small businesses experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 health pandemic. Residents and small businesses can apply by contacting the following agencies:

Rent Assistance:

  • Housing Assistance Corp. hac@haconcapecod.org 508-771-5400
  • Hands of Hope Outreach Center 508-432-1312

Mortgage, Home Utilities, Childcare, Internet Costs and COVID-Testing Costs Assistance:

  • Yarmouth Dept. of Community Development: mwaygan@yarmouth.ma.us 774-212-1668

Food Pantry and other Food Programs:

  • Yarmouth Food Pantry 508-394-0880 www.yarmouthfoodpantry.org
  • Yarmouth Senior Center 508-394-7606
  • Meals on Wheels – Elder Services of Cape Cod 508-394-4630

Empowerment for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault:

Emergency Repairs for Homeowners:

  • Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing H.E.L.P. (508) 432-0015 ext 109

Septic Repair and Pumping:

  • Yarmouth Dept. of Community Development: mwaygan@yarmouth.ma.us 774-212-1668

Small Business Assistance:

  • Yarmouth Dept. of Community Development: mwaygan@yarmouth.ma.us 774-212-1668

These programs are funded by the US HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the CARES Act of 2020, and the Yarmouth Community Preservation Program. This is an Equal Opportunity and discrimination of protected classes is strictly prohibited. Income limits and documentation requirements apply.

Student Meal Services

Dennis Yarmouth School Logo Dolphin Drive Through Opens in new window

DY Dolphin Drive Thru Food Student Food Service

To help our families during the school closure for the Coronavirus, the Dennis-Yarmouth Food Service Staff will be preparing breakfast and lunch for ALL students daily Monday - Friday 11am-1pm.
You do not have to qualify for a free or reduced-priced lunch to participate.
Every student/child eats FREE!
Please visit the DY Dolphin Drive Thru Page for details.

As of May the DY Food Service Team has prepared over 100,000 meals to our student community! They are serving over 1000 meals a day!

Food Assistance Resources

Yarmouth Senior Center Brown Bag Program 508-394-7606; 528 Forest Road West Yarmouth
The Yarmouth Senior Center offers home-bound low-income seniors free food delivery through the Brown Bag program. This program provides a free bag of food each month , typically containing about 10-15 pounds of a variety of nutritious food items from the major food groups.

Yarmouth Food Pantry  508-394-0880  http://yarmouthfoodpantry.org/ 

Hands of Hope Outreach Center (Located in Harwich but serves Yarmouth residents)  508-432-1312  https://capecodcouncilofchurches.org/hands-of-hope-food-pantry-and-outreach-center.html

Meals on Wheels is a program run through Elder Services of Cape Cod that brings meals to people aged 60 and older who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. The menu is varied and the meals are nutritionally balanced, prepared without added salt, and consist of a dinner, dessert (diabetic desserts can be ordered in advance), milk, bread and margarine. Meals are delivered between 9 AM and Noon, Monday through Friday, except holidays. If you’re isolated and homebound, you can arrange for extra meals that you can use over the weekend. Please call 508-394-4630 for more information.

The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), in service to the Barnstable County Incident Command COVID-19 response, is now providing a free service delivering pre-paid groceries to seniors and people at higher risk for infection. https://www.ccmedicalreservecorps.org/61-2/

Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment The Cape Cod and the Islands Regional Network on Homelessness COVID-19 Emergency Planning Team has compiled information on programs and sites in Barnstable County where prepared meals and pre-bagged groceries and supplies are available for pick up. Thank you to our partners who assisted with this project – Cape Cod Hunger Network, Cooperative Extension, Cape Cod Council of Churches, Housing. Please visit https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/community-tips/food-access-resources  for more information.

Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program is additional money for families to buy food while schools are closed due to COVID-19. https://www.map-ebt.org/

Meals for Veterans Notice

The Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Inc. plans to distribute 20,000 boxes of 14 days of meals for 2 adults this month in Massachusetts. Each box contains two weeks of non-perishable dry and canned goods. Veterans and their spouses are eligible to receive these packages. Yarmouth veterans can pick up their meals at the Yarmouth Senior Center Monday – Friday at noon. If you are a veteran or a spouse of a veteran interested in this great program, please fill out the following form: https://clearpathnewengland.formstack.com/forms/food_supply_request_ccmsf_sandwich . The Yarmouth Senior Center is available to assist individuals filling out this form and registering for the program. They can be reached at (508) 394-7606 .

Veterans - please take advantage of this generous donation to keep you safe and healthy. And thank you for your service.

Housing Assistance Resources

On July 21st Governor Charlie Baker extended the pause on eviction and foreclosures for 60 days until October 17, 2020. https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-extends-moratorium-on-evictions-and-foreclosures-to-october-17

The Baker-Polito Administration announced a new $20 million, statewide fund to assist low-income households facing difficulty making rent and mortgage payments. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-20-million-in-rental-and-mortgage-assistance-for

Rental Assistance Program: Hands of Hope 508-432-1312
The Town of Yarmouth uses Community Preservation Funds to assist low-income individuals and households avoid homelessness through rental assistance in the following two ways:

1. First and last months rent for a new Yarmouth unit paid on behalf of the tenant to the landlord
2. Payment of past due rent is paid on behalf of the tenant to the landlord
The program is an Equal Housing Opportunity.  Other program requirements may apply.  The program is administered by Hands of Hope Outreach Center; call 508-432-1312.

View the Hands of Hope Update Below:

Mortgage Assistance Program: Housing Assistance Corporation
508-771-5400 or email: hac@haconcapecod.org
Housing Assistance Corporation offers Free Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
https://haconcapecod.org/blog/bid-309013-free-foreclosure-prevention-counseling/ 

The Housing Assistance Corporation has established a Cape Cod COVID-19 Workforce Housing Relief Fund to provide urgent and ongoing assistance with past due rent or mortgage payments or other housing-related expenses for current, year-round Cape Cod and Island residents who are losing income due to the coronavirus. For more info, please visit: https://haconcapecod.org/blog/workforce-housing-relief-fund-and-more-new-support/
Watch COVID-19 Impacts on Cape Cod Housing Interview with Housing Assistance Corp Exec DIR Alisa Magnotto on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbRPYtUqsbM&feature=share

HAC is also offering an Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program and a Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program. https://haconcapecod.org/programs/homeless-prevention/?fbclid=IwAR3XIiAvGPpZoWKG8lQqp4Otavo2lh7AHEkH0VvYK_cGWdYbvKL3qzMCKQo

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac have a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for families impacted by COVID-19. Please view the Fannie Mae Freddie Mac FAQs document or visit the Federal Housing Finance Agency website. 

Personal Safety & Domestic Violence Resources

Independence House: If you are in need of help, please call the Independence House Hotline 800-439-6507 for sexual and domestic violence issues. They are here to help you.

Heating Assistance Resources

The Housing Assistance Corporation remains open to assist with home heating issues.  Income qualified seniors can apply for financial help replacing a faulty heating system. Other programs related to housing security are offered. Please visit https://haconcapecod.org/programs/energy-efficiency/ to learn more.

SSCAC.org Applications for Fuel Assistance are still being accepted through April 30, 2020.   Applicants can call 508-746-6707 or 877-FUEL AID Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:15AM to 3:00PM to complete a telephone intake. Please visit http://www.sscac.org/ for more info.

Nursing Home Family Resource Line

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the launch of the Nursing Home Family Resource Line – a dedicated phone line to connect family members of nursing home and rest home residents with the information and resources they need. This new phone line provides one central contact for families and community members who have questions about the nursing home or rest home care their loved one is receiving during the COVID-19 outbreak.  

The Nursing Home Family Resource Line is staffed from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, seven days a week. Staff will field questions on a range of topics and coordinate across state agencies to help provide answers.

These are unprecedented times and, understandably, families and community members have questions. We remain committed to providing relevant and timely information, and the Nursing Home Family Resource Line is another important resource.

Massachusetts Nursing Home Family Resource Line: 617-660-5399
Open Every Day - 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Beginning this morning, we will promote the phone line on social media, including on Twitter on @MassHHS, @MassDPH, @Mass_EOEA, with support by other state agencies, and messaging on mass.gov/covid19 and 2-1-1. We appreciate your help in sharing this information widely with the community.

Senior Services

Cape Cod RTA is still providing limited DART (Dial-A-Ride/Door-to-Door) buses for essential transportation services such as to the grocery store or a pharmacy.  Seniors should schedule a trip in advance by calling by noon the day before they need a ride (800-352-7155).

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands is open and fully operational throughout the COVID-19 emergency and is continuing to provide all services to the community including Information and Referral (I&R), Meals on Wheels, Home Care, Family Caregiver, and Protective Services. The Information and Referral Department is a central source of information on all services available to older adults on the Cape and Islands and is the entry point for referrals to Elder Services programs.  I&R staff can receive calls from seniors themselves, from their family members or neighbors, from service providers and healthcare providers, and from the staff of Cape and Islands’ towns.  For referrals to programs or general information on community resources, please call 508-394-4630 X 281

AARP Foundation’s Local Assistance Directory provides services to find food, housing, health and employment programs in the area (useful for residents of all ages).

Seniorliving.org has created a guide for technologies and apps that make it possible to keep connected and safe while staying at home. Use this guide to learn about apps and technologies that are suited for seniors (tech-savvy or not), helping them connect with loved ones and healthcare professionals as well as receive essential goods and services. https://www.seniorliving.org/research/apps-for-seniors/ 

Additional Support Services & Relief Fund Information

The Center for Family Therapy is now coordinating free “comfort conversations” with local therapists for community members who need to talk. People can call the Center for Family Therapy at 508-539-0221 and press 0 for the general line, then leave a name, phone number and a statement saying they want a comfort conversation. A volunteer therapist will call back within 24 hours.  

Barnstable County Human Services Website has a variety of resources available county-wide. Please click here to view their resources newsletter and find what you need in any town. Visit https://www.bchumanservices.net/  for more information.

The Cape Cod Times Needy Fund, Inc. has been helping local residents since 1936. Their mission is to provide urgent financial assistance for basic human needs to individuals and families residing on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket who are experiencing temporary financial hardships. Most of the money raised comes from Cape Cod individuals, families, businesses, clubs, civic organizations, schools and faith communities. Those helped by the Needy Fund do not receive cash. Payments are made directly to vendors through a voucher system. The Needy Fund provides financial assistance for: Housing, Utilities, Food, Medical, Transportation, Moving, Camps, and Holidays. For more info, please visit: https://needyfund.org/

The Cape Cod and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund (MCRF) is a nonprofit disaster response organization that provides humanitarian aid to local individuals and families. Addressing critical, long-term needs that are unmet by traditional forms of private and public disaster aid, we fill existing gaps in preparing for and responding to natural disasters, such as blizzards and hurricanes, and man-made crises such as health epidemics and terrorism. Their services include financial aid for food, housing, transportation, and medical/mental healthcare. Please visit https://majorcrisisrelieffund.org/ for more information.

We-Can is a non-profit that addresses women in transition who need guidance. They do not provide financial assistance but they offer free professional advice through a network of over 1000 professional volunteers. Visit https://www.wecancenter.org/ for more information.

State Resources

2-1-1 Call Line Established by the MA Dept. of Public Health


The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announces the launch of 2-1-1 to provide COVID-19 information Mass 211 Graphic Logo Opens in new windowand referrals 24/7.  Massachusetts 2-1-1 will now provide real-time COVID-19 information, resources, and referrals in multiple languages.  This expansion is the result of an increased investment in resources directed towards this 24-hour state supported telephone hotline.  Residents with questions should call 2-1-1 from any landline or cellphone.  Callers dialing 2-1-1 will hear an automated menu of options.  Callers press 2-6 for Coronavirus. Residents can also reach 2-1-1 through a live chat option via their website. Click to visit the Massachusetts 2-1-1 website.