PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:
HOPEfund grant applications are now reviewed on a
bi-monthly, bill-by-bill basis.
This process will create longer turn around times.
We ask you to plan accordingly.
HOPEfund Guidelines
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If you are a Sudbury, MA resident in need of emergency help to pay rent and other essential bills, HOPEsudbury may be able to help.
We have emergency grants up to:
· $600 for an individual
· $800 for a two or more adult household
· $1,200 for a family (guardian(s) and one or more dependents*) are available to eligible residents.
* HOPEsudbury defines a dependent as a person 18 or under, full-time student up to age 22, and persons with disabilities requiring care/inability to work.
The HOPEfund provides one grant per address per calendar year with a maximum of 5 lifetime grants.
Applicants may only receive one grant per address per 12-month period based on the date of their last grant approval date. Please note: beginning October 1, 2024, grant applications will be reviewed on a bi-monthy basis.
To apply for a HOPEfund grant, complete the online application or contact the Sudbury Social Work office at (978) 440-5476 or socialworker@sudbury.ma.us for assistance. The social work office will review your request and submit the completed application to HOPEsudbury for eligibility determination. HOPEsudbury eligibility criteria is outlined below in Frequently Asked Questions. All requests are confidential. There are no citizenship questions asked. All grants and related matters are the sole and complete discretion of HOPEsudbury.
Please note: Applications will only be reviewed by HOPEsudbury bi-monthly, only once the application is complete, including copies of the bills you are requesting assistance with.
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HOPEfund
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I know if I qualify for a grant from HOPEsudbury?
Residents with proof of a Sudbury, MA address (rental/lease agreement; mortgage, etc.) who have an emergency financial need are eligible (if approved) to receive on grant per household/address every 12 months up to five times total.
How do I apply for a HOPEsudbury grant?
Here are the steps to apply for a HOPEsudbury emergency fund:
1. Review the HOPEfund guidelines and frequently asked questions on this page.
2. Fill out and submit the online application.
(This includes submitting copies/images of the bills for which you are requesting financial assistance, which can be attached to the online application or emailed to HOPEfund@hopesudbury.org.
3. The town social worker will submit the application to HOPEsudbury, and the HOPEsudbury board will review the application and will relay their decision to you via email. Applications are reviewed bi-monthly.
4. If your application is approved, HOPEsudbury will send checks directly to the vendors listed on your application.
(Please note that once the application is submitted to the HOPEsudbury Board, we are not able to change where the grants are sent.)
HOPEfund eligibility criteria is outlined below in the frequently asked questions (please note that there are no citizenship questions asked).
All grant applications are confidential to the Social Work Office and HOPEsudbury board, and shared internally on a strict “need to know” basis.
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Are citizenship questions asked?
All requests will be treated confidentially. HOPEsudbury does not consider citizenship status when reviewing grant requests and no citizenship questions will be asked. If you choose to share citizenship information with
the social work office in order to seek specific resources or referrals, this information will be kept confidential by the social work team.
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What is the maximum emergency grant amount?
Emergency grants are available for up to $600 for an individual, $800 for a two-or-more adult household or $1,200 for a family (guardian and one or more dependents). For non-custodial parents, the recipient must have
custody of the child(ren) more than 50% or the time to be considered for a family grant.
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What is the Town of Sudbury’s Social Work Office role in the HOPEfund process?
The town social worker is not an employee or board member of HOPEsudbury, and therefore does not have a role in setting grant criteria or in decisions on the approval/denial of applications. The town social worker only reviews and facilitates the submission of applications to the HOPEfund.
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How are funds given out?
Payments are issued directly to the vendor only (utility company, landlord, etc.)
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What expenses can be covered by a grant?
Rent
Mortgage
Utilities (electric, heat (oil/gas), water, internet, and phone)
PLEASE NOTE: We are NOT able to cover Verizon Wireless Bills because they do not accept checks.
PLEASE NOTE: Eversource payments take longer to post than normal due to internal delays.
Emergency home repair (plumbing, heating, etc.)
Emergency car repairs and maintenance of existing vehicles
Transportation costs (excluding fines)
Non-elective medical and dental costs
Insurance payments (home, auto, and medical)
Childcare by an accredited childcare or after school care facility.
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What expense cannot be covered by a grant?
Alimony and child support
Credit card payments
Court fines and related expenses
Lawyer fees
Elective medical or dental expenses
Purchase of vehicles
Tax payments
Business expenses
School tuition
Funeral Expenses
Verizon Wireless bills (Verizon Wireless is unable to accept checks which is how we submit payment)
Other categories, as deemed appropriate, by the HOPEsudbury Board of Directors.
Payment in full is not guaranteed; Approved bills may not be paid in their totality dependent on fund budget.
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Can grant money be applied to future bills?
Checks will be written for past-due bills (or to cover the upcoming month ONLY under limited circumstances.) No payments for upcoming bills will be made. You may request payment for no more than 4 bills per grant.
When are applications for grants being accepted?
Applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed bimonthly. The time taken to review and process an application varies depending on the volume of applications in process and staffing.
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What documentation do I need to apply?
HOPEsudbury requires a bill, invoice, or statement from the vendor (utility company, landlord, medical office, etc.) showing the amount due, the vendor address for payment, and the account number, if applicable.
PLEASE NOTE: Applications will not be reviewed or payments made until all documentation is provided, including copies of the bills.
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When will payments be made?
Once all documentation is received and your application has been approved by HOPEsudbury (bi-monthly), you will be notified by email, and checks will be mailed within 7 business days. HOPEsudbury is not responsible for delays due to the postal service or the time it takes a vendor to credit payment to an account. Payment is made by check only. Phone and online payments are not available.
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What should I do if the check hasn’t been received by the vendor?
If a payment has not been credited to your account, please ensure 4 weeks have passed since receiving email approval of your HOPEfund grants. After that time, please contact hopefund@hopesudbury.org and HOPEsudbury will confirm if and when the check was cashed by the vendor. All further follow up with the vendor regarding payment credits to the account is the responsibility of the grant recipient. Checks not received or cashed by the vendor will be cancelled and reissued after 4 weeks have passed from when the check was mailed by HOPEsudbury.
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Are childcare or camp expenses covered by a HOPEfund grant?
HOPEsudbury administers a separate Camp/Childcare fund. Sudbury residents are eligible for assistance up to $400 per child per calendar year to an accredited camp or childcare facility. Contact the town social worker at socialworker@sudbury.ma.us for more information on the Camp/Childcare Fund.
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