The Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, provides monthly payments to 738 residents who are struggling with food insecurity and utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program, funded by a combination of city, state, and philanthropic sources, aims to increase the financial stability and well-being of low-income households in one of the hardest-hit communities in the country.
The program was launched in November 2020 as a six-month pilot and was recently extended for another six months with a new round of applications.
The program uses a weighted lottery system to select the recipients, giving preference to applicants who meet specific criteria, such as having children under 18, being disabled, being veterans, being seniors, being ineligible for other forms of government assistance, or identifying with a marginalized gender identity.
In two weeks, recipients of the Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, will receive their next payment worth up to $400.
In total, 738 households are receiving payments ranging from $200 to $400.https://t.co/CEnYsLcTJ0
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 1, 2023
The recipients receive a prepaid card that can be used to buy food and pay utility bills at participating stores and vendors. The monthly benefit varies depending on the household size: $200 for one person, $300 for two people, and $400 for three or more people. The cards are reloaded every month until the end of the program.
According to a study by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, the Chelsea Eats program has had positive impacts on the participants’ financial situation, food security, and mental health. The study also found no evidence that the program reduced the participants’ willingness to work or seek employment.
The application deadline for the second round of the Chelsea Eats program is January 6, 2023, at 12 pm. Eligible applicants must be Chelsea residents with a household income at or below 30% of the HUD Area Median Income (AMI).
Applications can be submitted online at www.chelseama.gov/chelseaeats or by calling 311 or email lalvarez@chelseama.gov.
