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Mayor proposes 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' program to aid struggling Easthampton residents
Summary
The mayor proposed a two-track "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" program to the city council: a voluntary checkbox on tax bills to fund assistance to low-income elderly or disabled homeowners, and a business-funded donation account to help other residents facing catastrophic hardship.
The mayor of Easthampton said she will propose a "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" program to the city council that would let residents contribute voluntarily to a local assistance fund.
On her Mayor Monthly update, the mayor framed the proposal as a response to rising costs that are forcing some households to choose between paying taxes and buying food. "I don't want people to...get into a position where they have to make the choice between do I pay my taxes or do I buy food for my family," she said, arguing the city should create a way for neighbors and businesses to help those in need.
The proposal has two tracks. The first would add an optional checkbox to residents' tax bills allowing people to add a small donation; funds from that checkbox would be directed to eligible homeowners in Easthampton who are elderly or disabled and who fall within a specified income bracket. The mayor said the checkbox option is intended for owners of single-family homes who meet those eligibility criteria, but she did not specify the exact income thresholds.
The second track would create a city-managed donation account soliciting tiered contributions from local businesses. Donors would receive recognition from the city — such as listings on a city webpage and letters of commendation — and the account would be used to help other residents who are not elderly or disabled but have experienced catastrophic events, such as the loss of a partner, that leave them unable to pay bills.
The mayor told viewers she had already seen immediate public support: while presenting the idea at a recent council meeting, she said she received an email from a resident that read, "This is a great idea. I'd be willing to pay triple my taxes to help my neighbors in need." She said such responses encouraged her belief that residents and businesses would step up to support the program.
No formal council action or vote was recorded in the mayor's update; the mayor said she will bring the proposal to the city council for consideration. Details such as the income thresholds for eligibility, governance of the donation account, oversight, and the timeline for council review were not specified in the update. The mayor directed residents to the mayor's office for further information and updates.
