Melrose Emergency Fund Received $30K, Disbursed $15K In Pandemic

MELROSE, MA — The city's emergency fund took in twice as much money as it paid out during the three months after the coronavirus started severely impacting everyday life in Massachusetts, according to information provided by Mayor Paul Brodeur to the City Council. The city, buoyed by the creation of Melrose Helps, was aggressive in seeking out those in need during the trying times.

That information was provided in the hours before a request from two councilors for more information on the emergency fund was set to be discussed Monday night. Councilors Shawn MacMaster and Jeff McNaught, satisfied with the information and Brodeur's intention to create an advisory board to re-examine the usage and scope of the fund, set aside the official request at a Finance Committee meeting.

The information sent to the Council showed that the emergency fund had $189,314.34 in it March 18. On June 8, the fund had $202,257.83. The fund received $30,151 in donations during that time and disbursed $15,080.17. In roughly the same time period, from March 13 and June 15, the fund received 127 donations.

More than 99 percent of the disbursed funds went to satisfying food needs, with 827 bags of groceries being purchased.

The city believes the funds paid out are eligible to be reimbursed by the federal CARES Act; Melrose in June put in for nearly a half million dollars of COVID-related expenses, including groceries, to be reimbursed.

The city contacted every senior citizen in Melrose to offer assistance during the pandemic, according to the information provided. Melrose Helps has been a key figure in reaching those who have needed a hand during the pandemic.

The emergency fund, established in 1996 following several fires in Melrose, has operated somewhat in the dark in recent years.

While it continues to help those in need after disasters — Brodeur said everyone impacted by Monday's fire at a West Wyoming apartment building would be offered assistance — its full scope and usage have been muddled.

The fund's usage came under some criticism during last year's Brazil Street sewage disaster, when the four households impacted only received four $200 gift cards from the fund.

At that time Brigid Alverson, assistant to then-Mayor Gail Infurna, told Patch the Council on Aging staff took requests, met with applicants, determined how much a person might need from the fund and administered the aid. The mayor's office would step in during some "extreme" cases, Alverson said.