Dukes County Health & Human Services Newsletter
Connecting Islanders with Care
Latest News from our Departments

The Access Program is providing their application and enrollment services remotely via telephone or Zoom.

Call their office or email them, and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
Phone: (508) 696-3844 or
(774)563-9585
Hours of Operation: Monday- Thursday 8-4:30,
and Friday 8-2.
Dukes County Welcomes a New Caseworker
Dukes County is pleased to introduce Delilah Meegan, our new Social Service Caseworker. Delilah was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, and after graduating from Wheaton College, in Norton, she has returned. In college, Delilah studied Public Health. She is very excited to help and give back to her community.
Through the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation and private investors, Dukes County Social Services has received a generous grant to allow us to buy gift cards to Stop & Shop to help with the food and basic necessity for people with limited resources due to COVID-19. We also have Bus Passes for the year 2021.
Please contact the Dukes County Social Service office if you need assistance.
VITA TAX Preparation Services: Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands (CACCI) offers free Tax Preparation REMOTELY for Islanders. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) provides clients with claiming tax credits and other benefits.
Due to COVID-19, you must call their number
(509)771-1727 ext. 200.
372 North St., Hyannis, MA

Assistance this year will still be facilitated remotely this year.
Dukes County Homelessness Prevention
978-273-0533
Please read more at www.harborhomesmv.com
The Homeless Shelter will be extending its hours to 24/7 as long as the temperatures remain below 28 °F in order to accommodate those that are in need. The maximum capacity is approximately 13 people. They are located at the Old Whaling Church (89 Main Street Edgartown, MA 02539). Contact them at 1-978-273-0533 for more information.

The Point In Time Count of Homeless individuals and families on the night of January 26, 2021 (an annual, national count) on Martha’s Vineyard resulted in 41 individuals that we KNEW were either unsheltered or in temporary/transitional shelter that evening. It includes the 6 men housed at Tashmoo as they qualify as transitional housing. It DOES NOT include all homeless on Island, specifically those who did not want us to know their whereabouts.
And now...
NEWS FROM MV CENTER FOR LIVING
Leslie Clapp, Executive Director
508-939-9440
 Zoom programs are offered M-Th attended by an average of 10-12 per session. We are currently serving a total of 30 clients, with 5 new clients enrolled since early December. The Caregiver Support Group every Friday has an average of 8-10 participants. We have received $3500 in donations specifically for the Zoom programs, which have been turned over to the County as revenue. Note this is separate from the funds raised through the appeal letters. 
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State COVID Relief Assistance: MV Community Foundation (Permanent Endowment): MVCF received $200,000 in State COVID Relief funding for Rental assistance, Utility assistance, Childcare, and Transportation for islanders who have lost income or resources due to COVID.

FEMA/Emergency Food and Shelter Program: Dukes County awarded $11,770
In June 2020, as the only applicant, MVCL was awarded this sum through Phase 37 and the CARES Act. As in many years past, these funds are typically used for Rental/Utility and Emergency Food Assistance. In these two phases combined, we assisted 22 households with either rent or utility payments.

FEMA Phase 38: $10,770 is currently available. This program has helped to assist islanders with rent/mortgage payments.
All Housing Authority business is currently being done over the phone (508-693-4419).

The COVID Winter Rental Relief Program
Dukes County Regional Housing Authority is offering rental relief or assistance with rent payments through the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation, MVCS, and the State’s Community Foundation for COVID-19 Relief.

The goal is to assist households where COVID has impacted the household income and made it difficult to make ends meet. The DCRHA also has different programs, such as the island-wide Rental Assistance program funded through Community Preservation funds from the towns. 

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