Record Details:

Material Aid and Advocacy Program [mutual aid network]

Website: https://www.maapma.org/


Mission: The mission of the Material Aid and Advocacy Program (MAAP) is to support and empower community members experiencing homelessness or living in poverty, through material aid, access to resources, and advocacy opportunities. Working with homeless community members and allies, we seek systemic solutions that address the root causes of homelessness, poverty, and inequality.





This organization provides Temporary or Permanent Service? Temporary

Notes:

Cofd 19 response:

https://www.maapma.org/covid-19-updates

COVID-19
Overview

This is a trying time in so many ways. Our community members are now experiencing the compound crises of homelessness, COVID-19, and for many the continued overdose crisis. It is clear the Commonwealth doesn’t have a plan for people experiencing homelessness but especially for those living unsheltered. We will continue to provide support, solidarity, and speak up.

We are committed to continuing to support our participants and community members experiencing homelessness. In consultation with our participants we have put in place a system to make the best decisions we can as a small grassroots organization while being as safe as possible.

We have moved our modified operations from our basement space to the lawn in front of our building. Despite social distancing, we are hoping to continue to be a place where people feel a sense of connection and belonging even if that is from six feet away.

Community members are welcome to drop-in at our outdoor space during our regular hours on Tuesdays or Thursdays for support including:

Survival supplies (tents, sleeping bags, tarps, blankets, backpacks & hiking bags, hand warmers, hygiene & menstrual hygiene kits, MBTA passes, Gift Cards, and clothing).

Utilizing our outdoor sink and phone charging station

Lunch and Snacks: We will continue to provide single serve snacks as well as nourishing salads and sandwiches to-go rescued by our partner Food Link. Beginning 3/31/2020 will be partnering with the City of Cambridge to provide meals to participants from a local restaurant so participants will able to save their sandwich or salad for later.

Connection to Resources: We will provide as up-to-date information as possible on available resources (COVID-19, shelter, meals, healthcare access, harm reduction access, bathrooms, clean water). Participants will also be welcome to use our phone and laptop as needed.

Advocacy: Although our Advocacy Meal is on hold we will continue to welcome participants to engage in advocacy, especially around COVID-19.

We will engage in outreach, bringing participants and community members experiencing homelessness the material aid and basic necessities they deserve.

Community members in need of survival supplies are welcome to text or email us for drop-off.

We will be pausing referral requests until we are able to move our operations back into our space.

Each Sunday, we’ll make a Board/Staff decision based on the information we have and the needs community members have identified about our services for the coming week with the full transparency that that could change daily as we monitor external conditions and our resources.

updates

We will be providing regular updates via email during this challenging time:

Past Updates can be viewed by clicking the links below:

Making a Material Difference with Material Aid during COVID-19​ March 14

COVID-19 at MAAP: What we've accomplished, what we've learned and how you can help March 23

It's 9am and Cassie is opening MAAP right now April 9

To join our mailing list and receive updates fill out our form here

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How you can make a difference

We so appreciate your support. We couldn't do this without you! Here are ways you can help:

We need to immediately raise $25,000 for staff support and increased material aid. It’s our 75th anniversary and we were going to hold a Spring celebration. We are now canceling that fundraising celebration. We are instead asking that you give online.

Contribute to our ongoing material aid campaigns. We have updated our urgent needs wishlist and our Amazon wishlist!

CDC guidance says that soft goods are a very low transmission risk if you are not sick and if all materials have been washed and dried.

Please Note: To encourage greater physical distancing, we have rented a temporary storage container (POD) for the FMC driveway. We can receive material donations from 8am-6pm, 7 days a week.

Email donate@maapma.org for lock and sanitizing instructions. .

You can also buy items off of our Amazon wishlist. (Please use Amazon smile now and always for your purchases!)

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