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Links to Local & Regional Resources
Amherst Survival Center
138 Sunderland Road
North Amherst, MA
Ph: 413-549-3968
The Amherst Survival Center welcomes everyone to enjoy a hot Lunch, fresh food distribution, free medical clinic, free store-and our Community Center/Volunteer Program.
Community Action
Northampton - Hampshire County Main Office:
17 New South St., Suite #116
Northampton, MA 01060
Ph: 413-774-7028
Community Action holds a long-term vision of safe, just, and prosperous communities throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin region in western Massachusetts. They are committed to upholding the common good by offering leadership, advocacy, and concrete resources that support children, youth, individuals, families, and local communities to thrive.
They provide resources for basic needs, home energy assistance, child care and head start, family support, adult education, food and nutrition and money management.
Family Outreach of Amherst
401 Main St.
Suite 12
Amherst, MA 01002
Ph: 413-549-5548
Family Outreach of Amherst (FOA) is the safety net for low-income families in Amherst and the surrounding communities. We are unique in our ability to address all the issues struggling families face: mental health, domestic violence, addiction, housing, and life skills.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts,
Call The Food Bank at 413-247-9738 or 800-247-9632. We can help direct you to a resource in your community.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts works with a network of hundreds of food assistance agencies throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties. If you live in one of those counties, check out our list of Food Bank partner agencies to find a food pantry, meal site, or other type of assistance near you.
Partners for Community
11-13 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA.
Ph: 413-272-2200
Partners for Community consolidates and delivers a variety of administrative functions in a cost-efficient manner so that its human service affiliate agencies can deliver more effective social programs to their communities. While the specific missions and areas of expertise of PfC’s affiliates differ, they are linked by the common goal of enabling program participants to live with dignity and self-sufficiency. Ways Partners for Community can help include:
- Childcare
- Heating bills
- Farm worker support
- Earning a GED
- Finding shelter
- Paying rent
- Job training
- Residential services
WMECO Income Eligible Programs
Western Massachusetts Electric (WMECO) Income Eligible Programs, to declare a Financial Hardship please call Customer Service at 413-781-4300 (within the Springfield calling area) or 877-659-6326 (outside the Springfield calling area).
33 Kellogg Ave.
Suite 81
Amherst, MA 01002
Ph: 413-256-0206
Fx: 413-256-8551
Amherst Housing Authority
Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the agency's housing programs. On our website, you will find links to documents that range from applications for the various housing programs; housing plans; the Section 8 Administrative Plan; the Federal 5 year plan; minutes from the Board of Commissioners meetings; Annual Reports; numerous agency policies and even opportunities for volunteering. Our housing programs our:
- Elderly housing
- Application for state-aided housing
- Persons with disabilities
- Family housing
- Section 8 voucher
Federal Building
10 Causeway St.
3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02222
Department of Housing and Urban Development
DHCD's mission is to strengthen cities, towns and neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life of Massachusetts residents. We provide leadership, professional assistance and financial resources to promote safe, decent affordable housing opportunities, economic vitality of communities and sound municipal management.
Key resources for citizens:
- homeBASE hotline
- Find service provider
- Obtain housing assistance
- Rental applications and documentations
Habitat for Humanity's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Our mission principles are to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ, focus on shelter, advocate for affordable housing, promote dignity and hope, support sustainable and transformational development.
HAPHousing
322 Main St.
Suite 1
Springfield, MA 01105
Ph: 413-233-1500
HAPHousing
HapHousing provides a wide range of programs to serve the residents of Hampden and Hampshire counties. For further details or contact information, please link to the complete description of programs that interest you:
- Affordable Housing Development
- American Dream Downpayment Program
- Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance
- Emergency Shelter Fair Housing
- Family Self-Sufficiency Program
- FIRST HOME home buyer education course
- First-time Homebuyer Counseling
- Foreclosure Prevention
- Home Base
- Assistance with housing and much more
57 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Ph: 413-539-9796
Ph: 800-675-7309
Massachusetts Fair Housing Center
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center (also known as the Housing Discrimination Project, Inc.) is the oldest fair housing center in Massachusetts. MFHC serves Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Counties. MFHC provides free legal services and accepts housing discrimination complaints based on race, national origin, color, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, presence of minor children, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, receipt of public assistance, including Section 8 housing assistance, receipt of housing subsidies or rental assistance, and genetic information.
First Baptist Church
434 N. Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Craig’s Place
Craig’s Place Emergency Shelter operates from November 1st through April 30th. Craig’s Place has a behavior based admission policy: all who show respect for the safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, and staff are welcome. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Services include:
- Overnight Shelter
- Dinner and breakfast
- Access to showers
- Medical clinic
- Referrals to social services
- Housing referrals
129 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Ph: 413-585-1300
Fx: 413-582-4252
Servicenet
Our family shelter, the Greenfield Family Inn, provides temporary room and board, assistance in finding permanent housing, and a variety of other support services including a new Rapid ReHousing program, through which we hope to minimize each family’s crisis by facilitating their move back into stable housing as soon as possible.
The Wells Street Shelter and Grove Street Inn provide emergency overnight shelter for adults. The Interfaith Shelter provides overnight shelter for adults during the 6 coldest months of the year. The Interfaith Emergency Shelter operates in partnership with the City of Northampton and the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals. The Friends recently arranged for overflow winter space in Easthampton, with 4-6 beds, operated in partnership with Soldier On.
Horizons for Homeless Children
Western Region Playspace Program Office
425 Union St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Ph: 413-532-0467
Fx: 413-455-3285
Horizons for Homeless Children
Horizons for Homeless Children is one of the few organizations in Massachusetts focused exclusively on the needs of young homeless children and their families. We are recognized as a national leader in the education of homeless children. Today, we provide high-quality early education, opportunities for play, and family engagement services to more than 2,000 homeless children each week in Massachusetts. Our programs are:
- Early Education
- Playspaces
- Research and Evaluation
- Training & Technical Assistance
- Policy and Advocacy.
Mercy Health Care for the Homeless
Since 1983, the Mercy Health Care for the Homeless Program (HCH) has been an ongoing and expanding effort to identify homeless persons in Western Massachusetts, assess their needs and resources, deliver health and social services and evaluate their impact.
Services are provided throughout the year on a daily basis with back-up arrangements for 24-hour, emergency coverage. Our team provides primary care services on-site at 46 shelters, soup kitchens, job placement sites and transitional programs throughout Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire counties
For more information about the Mercy Health Care for the Homeless program, please call 413-748-9064