Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund

The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund was activated by Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale in response to the public health crisis created by COVID-19. The City has been receiving donations to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

Through the generosity of Cambridge residents and local corporations, the Fund will allow the City of Cambridge to assist as many people as possible that are in need due to this crisis. We would also like to thank the individuals, non-profits and businesses that have come together to donate supplies, food and masks during this critical time of need. View a list of all the in-kind donations provided throughout the City of Cambridge.

Under guidelines issued by the Fund’s Trustees, the City is prioritizing applicants who demonstrate a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The funds are being allocated for rent and/or utility payments or other household needs. Funds are also being allocated for mortgage payments for homes purchased through the City’s affordable homeownership programs. While residents may be eligible for 3 out of the 4 identified categories, no household will be eligible to receive more than an overall total payment of $4,000 at this time. Immigration status will not be a factor in determining applicant eligibility. The City's goal is to mail checks for relief funds twice a week to ensure that Cambridge residents are receiving financial assistance as quickly as possible.

$500,000 from the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund was also used to support Cambridge small businesses. Qualifying businesses were eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000 to assist with rent, salaries, utilities and cost of goods which will not have to be repaid. The grant criteria prioritized businesses that have been more severely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As of May 15th, new applications for financial relief through the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund have been paused. We know this pandemic will go through many different phases and have long lasting effects in our community. Knowing this, the Mayor is committed to continue fundraising to ensure the City is able to help residents, families and businesses throughout the duration of the pandemic and its aftermath. We hope to reopen applications soon.

If you would like to contribute to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, you can make your generous donation below.