Total Awarded : $98,500

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Program: Emergency Assistance Gift Cards
Grant: $20,000
Program Description: Emergency Assistance for households facing an urgent crisis that has caused financial strain. Essential needs include overdue utility bills, transportation, moving costs, medical prescriptions, food, cleaning and personal care supplies, etc.. Households that do not qualify for existing state or federal programs will be prioritized.
Program: WPD Emergent Essential Needs Program (Pilot)
Grant: $5,500
Program Description: Providing emergency assistance for essential needs in acute emergencies encountered by WPD during their work within the community.

FOOD SECURITY

Program: Springwell's Nutrition Program for Watertown Older Adults
Grant: $20,000
Program Description: Springwell's Nutrition Program provides a three-pronged approach to providing meals: Community Dining, Grab & Go Meals, and Home-Delivered Meals. Grant funds will help offset a critical gap in funding the transportation of home-delivered meals in Watertown.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

Program: Mental Health Supports
Grant: $5,000
Program Description: To fund the stipend for two Master in Social Work student interns who provide critical mental health support to the Watertown Housing Authority community.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Program: Watertown Rent Assistance
Grant: $20,000
Program Description: A one-time rental assistance payment available to low-income residents (earning no more than 60% AMI) in Watertown with proof of need. To maximize the impact of funds, this program will coordinate with the Watertown Housing Authority and Wayside to support households outside the Watertown Housing Authority.
Program: Watertown Rent Assistance
Grant: $18,000
Program Description: A one-time rental assistance program marketed to all Family Program tenants. Eligible applicants must have rental arrears that predate the month funds are awarded to WHA.
Program: Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund
Grant: $10,000
Program Description: The Helen Robinson Wright Fund at First Parish responds to requests from Watertown residents for assistance with rent, utilities, and food. In coordination with Wayside, half of the funds will be allocated to rental assistance.

Grants Open in April

Launches in 2026

2025 Grant Recipients