Free Housing Mediation Services

SHARE recently received the following notice about the useful aid offered by the Family Services of Central Massachusetts Mediation Department:

The Family Services of Central Massachusetts (FSCM) Mediation Department, an Affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, is a Worcester based Community Mediation Program covering all of Worcester County. Our Housing Mediation Program offers FREE mediation services to landlords and tenants. The pandemic has led to a growing number of eviction cases, and an increase in our homeless population. Part of Governor Baker’s comprehensive Eviction Diversion Initiative is The Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program, a statewide program that uses mediation as a homelessness prevention and housing stability vehicle to help mitigate the human and economic costs of eviction.

FSCM Mediation is voluntary, meaning both landlord and tenant must agree to mediate. FSCM Mediation confidential, meaning anything said in mediation remains with our program and we do not report to anyone with a couple exceptions: if someone says they are going to hurt themselves or someone else, or commit a crime. This is an important distinction because the Housing Court mediation process is not confidential. Court Dispute Resolution Specialists can report “mediation” conversations to the Judge. FSCM Mediators are neutral. We do not take sides, impose solutions, or tell parties what to do. Our Mediators help parties have a conversation to see if they can make their own decisions about moving forward.

FSCM free housing mediation is best utilized prior to OR at the time of Notice to Quit being served upon tenant by landlord and when a case is about to be or is first filed with the Housing Court (called TIER I). The more we can help landlords and tenants get ahead of needing a court process, the more we can help eradicate our community housing crisis, free up court backlog, and preserve family stabilization.

We offer mediation services in both English and Spanish. To learn more about The Family Services of Central Massachusetts (FSCM) Mediation Department, please visit our website: https://www.sevenhills.org/programs/mediation/ 

SHARE Is Solving Problems

At any given moment, SHARE leaders are working on a lot of different things. One project we’re always working at is Problem Solving.

Problem Solving can mean a lot of different things. Lately, specifically, we're having lots of meetings in SHARE departments about avoiding errors. SHARE members make thousands of decisions at work every day. With COVID-19 and many areas short-staffed, the pressure is on. SHARE aims to help our community recognize mistakes are human, and to help design systems that keep the work flow manageable.

If we make it easier to always do the right thing -- and easier to catch mistakes before they have any effect -- our hospital provides better care, and SHARE members can continue to consistently feel proud of the work that they do.

Learn more about Problem Solving: https://www.sharehospitalunion.org/union-support

Getting Help with Rent, Utilities, and Moving Costs

The AFL-CIO has been working to make sure that union members know that renters and landlords can apply for money from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance program. In case you don’t get emails from the AFL-CIO directly, please know that you can get help with rent, utility bills and even moving costs. They write:

If you’re having trouble making rent payments, you’re not alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for renters and landlords to cover housing costs. The CDC eviction moratorium ended on July 31, so renters are worried about catching up on past-due rent and facing eviction.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has an Emergency Rental Assistance program. The funds are being distributed by state and local organizations to their communities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a tool to find a program in your community.

You don’t have to be behind on rent to get assistance. Some programs offer help with future rent. Local programs may also offer help with utility bills and moving costs.

Find your local program and apply for rental assistance now.

First Aid for Stress: A Webinar for UMass Memorial Caregivers

We Are In this Together, an Open Letter to SHARE Members

Dear SHARE Member, 

You are not alone. That remains as true as ever. We’re all in a homegrown union with over 3,000 SHARE members. Together, we’ve spent more than 20 years cultivating a culture of caring.  

Things now are hard. And we’re here to support each other. If you need help, please reach out. If you see that someone else needs help, reach out. As a union, we lean on each other, assess situations together, brainstorm solutions and escalate problems when we get stuck. 

We may not know for sure what’s coming tomorrow, but we do know how to move forward together. Here’s how to do that: 

Take Care of Yourself First.   

When you’re on a plane, the flight crew advises to first take the oxygen mask for yourself before you help anyone else. That same principle is true now. SHARE members come to work in healthcare because we want to help others. However, you can’t care for your family, your community, your patients, and each other unless you have your basic needs met first.  

Ask for Help.  

If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to -- whether it’s about stress, finances, PPE, or something else -- we are here. Nowadays, SHARE organizers spend much of our time on the phones and in email talking with members about how things are going. That helps us know how to advocate for system improvements in our daily conversations with hospital leaders. It also helps us connect members who may be able to help one another, and with other helpful resources. 

Please keep these contact numbers handy: 

• SHARE: (508) 929-4020 (or, see the complete list of SHARE Organizer contacts) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): (800) 322-5327 

• Employee Health: (508) 793-6400 

• UMass Memorial Caregiver Support Line: (508) 334-HELP 

You can also find many resources and perks for caregivers on the SHARE website: #gettinghelp 

Speak Up.   

Around the SHARE office, we talk about each of us having an “internal smoke alarm.” You may not know the source of the smoke -- it could just be that someone in the other room is burning the popcorn again. But it could be more serious. If your internal smoke alarm is sounding, please know you have a network around you, including trusted friends, your co-workers, your manager, Human Resources, the elected SHARE Rep in your area, and the SHARE staff organizers.  

Your voice matters. Speaking up can be scary, and it can sometimes be hard to figure out what to say and who to say it to. We’re here to help. Things in our hospital need to move fast, but they need to move thoughtfully, too.  

Take Care of Each Other.   

In many ways, confronting the current challenges will be unifying. However, those same stresses can also make it hard to get along. We may snap at each other, shut down, or show other signs of distress. Let’s be sure to reduce our collective stress by assuming each other’s best intentions. Sometimes, the best thing will be to offer to help. Or to simply provide a kind gesture.    

Pause and Breathe. 

Taking a moment to find something happening right now that you appreciate or that inspires you is a powerful and effective coping tool. Together, our hospital is turning out story after story of bravery, compassion, and teamwork. Hospital processes that have been caught up in gridlock for as long as some of us can remember have kicked into gear, sometimes overnight. Our community is coming together in resourceful ways to move forward in this critical time.  

Know that you are not alone.  

If you need help, reach out. If you see someone who needs help, reach out. We are in this together. 

Sincerely, 

The SHARE Organizing Staff 

p.s., The SHARE blog has added new posts this week, including:

• The above-mentioned post with new resources, perks, and deals for caregivers, 

• Hazard Pay in the news, 

• A fresh roundup of other news stories you might have overlooked, and  

• Advice for safely handling the germ-carrying device that goes with you everywhere: your mobile phone. 

Caring for You: Resources & Perks for SHARE Members

Caring for ourselves, our families, and our community involves all kinds of new challenges, but we’re here to support one another. Below, you’ll find helpful resources for taking care of yourself and your family, as well as perks and deals that the community has offered up to show appreciation for the work that you do as caregivers.  

Resources from UMass Memorial

UMass Memorial itself offers many resources for its employees. As announced in recent Command Center emails. The Caring for the Caregiver program provides resources, such as virtual peer support, wellness apps, child care assistance, and discounted accommodations for caregivers. More information on these programs is available on our Caring for the Caregiver page. 

• Sign Up to Receive Care Texts: Care Texts were launched today as a part of our Caring for the Caregiver efforts. These short, to-the-point daily texts are designed to support you with wellness resources and other inspiring ideas. To sign up, text CARE to 81411. UMass Memorial-issued phones will receive them automatically, and you can opt out at any time. Visit the Hub to learn more. 

• UMass Memorial Caregiver Support Line: Caregivers seeking peer support, family services, mental health resources, spiritual care, help finding online wellness resources, or just a place to talk can call 508-334-HELP. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. 

• Groceries 2 Go: The cafeteria on the University Campus continues to offer a convenient Grocery 2 Go pick-up service for on-site caregivers. The service will be offered at a later date on the Memorial Campus. Visit Hub news for more details on how to place an order.  

• Music for Resilience: Now more than ever is the time to use your music to help you rest, release, or reboot. Curious? Jump on Zoom and come check it out: Fridays at 5pm and Mondays at 4pm.  Have a piece of paper and some colors handy. Recommended, but not required, headphones or earbuds and a way to access your preferred music choices (YouTube, Spotify, or however you store your music). You may need to have Zoom downloaded on your computer or phone in advance. Here’s the Zoom link: https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/97730895460 

• Employee Assistance Program: As always, the hospital’s free and confidential EAP service is here to support SHARE members and the hospital community. Many additional coronavirus-specific resources are currently listed on the EAP website. 

A Few More Odds & Ends 

• The Average Socialite website publishes an ongoing list of perks and freebies for healthcare workers 

• Thrillist collects up a similar list of nationwide chains offering free food for healthcare workers 

• This one’s not for caregivers exclusively, but if you’re also homeschooling right now, you might appreciate this thorough roundup of children’s authors and illustrators hosting online storytime sessions 

• Popular mindfulness and meditation apps including Headspace and Ten Percent Happier currently offer free premium memberships to healthcare workers to help during the COVID-19 crisis 

• In case you missed it, the SHARE blog also previously rounded up this collection of resources that can be helpful to SHARE members during hard times.  

Do you know of other aids or deals for caregivers that could benefit SHARE members? Please let us know. And keep your eye on this blog as well as the SHARE homepage. As we learn of more opportunities, we’ll be sure to post them.  

Resources to Help SHARE Members Handle Hard Times

As you work the front lines, you are, as always, helping in invaluable ways to keep our community healthy and strong. Your commitment to what you do is as meaningful as ever. Thank you. 

However, each of us is also facing new personal hardships. Below is a current roundup of resources that may help you and your family now.  

Unemployment Resources 

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Massachusetts has expanded Unemployment Insurance Benefits. These benefits now extend to workers who have been isolated and quarantined, those who must be home to care for children as a result of school and daycare closures, and who must stop work due to “reasonable risk of exposure.”   

• Mass.gov: The official unemployment site for Massachusetts states “You should apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Most claims are processed within 21-28 days after filing. It may take longer if there is an issue with your claim.” 

• Changes to Unemployment Insurance, explained.   

• How to apply: UFCW Local Union 328 has developed this handy step-by-step guide. 

Federal Stimulus Checks 

Last week, the Federal Government passed historic legislation to provide economic relief in response to COVID-19. Some key provisions of this 2 trillion dollar aid package developed are designed to help small- to mid-sized businesses, and don’t apply to UMass Memorial. However, stimulus checks are being delivered directly to qualified US residents and Americans living abroad. Here’s some things to know.  

• The New York Times provides this FAQ about the Coronavirus Stimulus Checks, Unemployment, and the National Coronavirus Plan 

• You can estimate the amount of your own check using this Stimulus Check Calculator from the Washington Post. 

More Ways to Find Help  

As a SHARE union member, you’re linked to a broad network of resources. Our grassroots union at UMass Memorial Hospital, SHARE, is AFSCME Local #3900, a member organization of the AFL-CIO.  

• AFL-CIO COVID-19 resources 

• AFSCME COVID-19 resources 

• Hardship help is also available to union members at unionplus.org. This includes legal help, mortgage assistance, a medical bill negotiating assistance, and more. 

• Community Health, developed in partnership with UMass Memorial, provides a searchable database of food delivery, job training, and other services centered in Central Massachusetts.  

• Helpsteps also connects individuals to local health and human resources to alleviate disparities in health and social well-being in Massachusetts communities. Although the program was developed to provide resources to the greater Boston area, it has expanded to provide links to services throughout the state through Mass 211, including financial assistance, legal aid, food, mental health, addiction, education, elder care, and more.  

you can Help your union to Help Others

We’ll continue to round up links to services that could potentially aid you and your family. Sharing information helps keep our union strong. If you learn something useful from your experience with any of these services that we can help pass along to other members, please tell your area SHARE organizer, or give us a call (508-929-4020) and tell us your story.

Keeping Up-To-Date 

 The SHARE staff is working to keep up with news and information as it becomes available. For the latest, please see the news feed on the SHARE homepage, or follow the official @sharehospitalu1 and SHARE Organizer @sharekirk on Twitter.