Many of us are struggling with how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our workplaces, and how that in turn affects our daily lives. Here is a list of resources that we hope you’ll find helpful.
Food, Housing and Health Insurance Resources
Resources for Job Seekers
MassHire for Job Seekers MassHire creates trust and reliability by connecting job seekers across the Commonwealth to quality education, skills training, and employment opportunities.
Register for a Career Center Seminar (CCS) You can attend a Career Center Seminar at any of the MassHire Career Centers across the state. You do not have to be unemployed to use these services.
Unemployment If you’re unemployed in Massachusetts, you may be eligible for resources to help you get back on your feet. Employers can also find information about the contributions they must make by law for their employees.
Professional Training & Career Development Learn about professional training opportunities that can help further your career.
Library Databases
Gale Business: Entrepreneurship Covers all major areas of starting and operating a business: financing, management, marketing, human resources, franchising, accounting, taxes and more. Great for startups, established businesses, and business students alike. This database is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Gale OneFile: Vocations and Careers A collection of career guides and industry journals. This database is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commisioners.
Gale Presents: Peterson’s Career Prep Learn about careers, receive personalized career recommendations, create resumes and cover letters, search for jobs, explore schools and training programs, and get advice to help find a job or advance your career.
COVID-19 Employment Resources
Mass.gov: Unemployment and COVID-19. The official state web site’s list of resources for people who are unemployed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Contains links to unemployment insurance online applications forms in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
How to apply for unemployment benefits. An additional state web page explaining the process in detail.
Unemployment Insurance. The state Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) oversees this program.
U.S. Department of Labor’s Coronavirus Resources. General information about workplace safety, wages, leave time, unemployment insurance, and more.
U.S. Department of Labor: Essential Protections During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Information on common issues employers and employees face during the pandemic.
COVID-19 Economic Relief. This U.S. Treasury page explains how American workers, families, and small businesses can get economic assistance.
Ask a Manager’s Work and COVID-19 Information. Alison Green answers your questions about the new unemployment law, sick leave, what’s reasonable for managers to expect of parents working from home, and more.
Small Business COVID-19 Relief Options. From the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. Update: The Paycheck Protection Program ended on May 31, 2021, but existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness. SBA also offers additional COVID-19 relief.
Disaster Assistance. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Westford Job Seekers group is meeting on Zoom during the pandemic.
Food, Housing & Health Insurance Resources
Massachusetts Health Connector can provide health insurance for qualified Massachusetts residents who are uninsured. Open enrollment has ended, but you can enroll any time of the year if you’ve experienced a qualifying event.
The Westford Food Pantry provides services for emergency, short and long-term needs for quality fresh and dry foods along with personal care and household items.
Mortgage Payment Relief is available for unemployed homeowners under the CARES Act.
2022 HUD Housing Resource & Rental Assistance Guide for Massachusetts. This updated English version of the guide can be viewed and downloaded. A Spanish language edition is coming soon, along with printed booklets of both versions. In the meantime, you can browse a printed copy of the English edition in our Information Services Department.
Resources for renters can be found at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.