Emergency Resources

Updated April 2022

Food Assistance | Legal Services | Health and Human Services | Domestic Violence Services | Shelters | Affordable Housing & Section 8 Information | Childhood and Family Services | Elder Services

FOOD ASSISTANCE 

  • Printable Food Resources Flyers

  • Somerville Food Security Coalition 

    • Covers local food resources, WIC benefits, SNAP benefits, and more

  • Elizabeth Peabody House 

    • Contact: (617) 623-5510, 277 Broadway (Grant St. entrance), Somerville
    • Hours: 6pm-8pm on Wednesdays

  • Catholic Charities

    • Contact: (617) 625-1920, 270 Washington St, Somerville
    • Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30pm-4 pm

  • Salvation Army 

    • Contact: (617) 547-3400, 402 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.
    • Daily meals are served at the Drop-In Shelter, The Lodge, the children of Our Place Day Care, and senior citizens programs. Community dinners are held every Wednesday nights.

  • Project SOUP

    • Contact: (617) 776-7687, 165 Broadway, Somerville
    • Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday. Tues: 12pm-4pm. Wed: 10am-3pm. Thurs: 2pm-7pm. Fri: 10am-3pm. Sat: 9am-12pm
    • Food pantry, community meals, and deliveries for the homebound are available
    • Somerville residents only, please bring proof of residency to the pantry

  • Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

    • Contact: (617) 628-2601, 61 Medford St., Somerville
    • To be eligible for most nutrition programs, you must be a Somerville or Cambridge resident, 60 and older, or the spouse of someone receiving services
    • SCES offers Meals-on-Wheels, congregate meal options, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), nutrition counseling and supplements, and Farmers Market coupons

  • DTA – Department of Transitional Assistance 

    • Contact: (877) 382-2363
    • The DTA provides emergency assistance to low-income families with children, including help obtaining food assistance (SNAP benefits), and cash benefits, as well as access to employment and training resources. 
    • Self-Service DTA kiosks are available at Somerville City Hall Annex (51 Evergreen Ave.) and the Somerville Council on Aging (167 Holland St.). Find out if you’re eligible for food or cash assistance (SNAP benefits) via DTA Connect.

  • Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services (CASLS)

    • Contact: (617) 603-2700 | (617) 494-1757 (TDD). 60 Gore Street Suite 203, Cambridge
    • The physical office is closed until further notice. Staff are working remotely. To request legal services call and follow instructions to leave a message.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES

  • RESPOND Inc.

    • Contact: (617) 625-5996
    • Support Line: (617) 623-5900, available 8am-6pm M-F
    • RESPOND partners with individuals, families, and communities to end domestic violence. The support line is staffed by a trained domestic violence counselor.

  • Safelink Hotline

    • Contact: (877) 785-2020, Hearing-impaired: (877) 521-2601
    • Hotline for anyone affected by domestic or dating violence. Staff provide referrals to local domestic violence and community services, safety planning, support, and resources. Spanish-speaking staff available. Translation service available for 130 languages.

SHELTERS

  • Somerville Homeless Coalition Adult Shelter

    • Contact: (617) 623-2546, 14 Chapel St., Somerville
    • Somerville Homeless Coalition has 16 beds for individuals and is a “dry” shelter which means that guests may not use drugs or alcohol while there. Guests are all assigned to case workers who help them find permanent housing. People may self-refer to shelter by calling the number above.

  • St. Patrick’s Women’s Shelter

    • Contact: (617) 628-3015, 270 Washington St., Somerville
    • An emergency shelter for homeless women that offers referrals for health care, mental health services, educational services, housing, and a transitional program.

  • CASPAR FirstStep Street Outreach Program

    • Contact: (617) 592-6895, 240 Albany Street, Cambridge
    • The FirstStep Outreach team visits homeless people where they are in the community, offering access to medical care, meals, psychiatric treatment, addiction counseling, and other services.

  • CASPAR Emergency Services Center and Shelter

    • Contact: (617) 661-0600, 240 Albany St, Cambridge
    • A wet shelter for those battling drug and alcohol addiction that offers mental health care, nutritious meals, personal hygiene supplies, clean clothes, and case management.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SECTION 8 INFORMATION

  • Somerville Office of Housing Stability

    • Contact: (617) 625-6600 x2581. City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave., Somerville
    • The city’s Office of Housing Stability works to prevent the involuntary displacement of Somerville residents who are at risk of losing their housing and to help rehouse the homeless and those needing to relocate. Use the page’s referral form to obtain further assistance for yourself or others.

CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES

  • CAAS Head Start

    • Contact: (617) 623-7370, 66-70 Union Square #104, Somerville
    • Head Start is a comprehensive developmental preschool program that provides a variety of wrap-around services to approximately 275 low-income children and their families each year. Head Start supports the learning and development of children ages three to five in classrooms located throughout Somerville and Cambridge.

  • Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)

    • Contact: (617) 629-5670, 8 Bonair St., Somerville
    • The SFLC is the department of family and community engagement of the Somerville Public Schools. As a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant recipient, the Somerville Public Schools partners with the Department of Early Education and Care to provide a variety of resources, support services, and programs to help meet the needs of Somerville families in supporting their children’s learning and well-being. Many resources are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.

  • City of Somerville Health and Human Services 

    • Contact: (617) 625-6600 x2250, 165 Broadway, Somerville
    • Provides assistance with applications for basic needs resources such as housing, food, fuel assistance, and other public benefits (such as SNAP, WIC, etc). Referrals for health services (including dental and mental health), legal assistance, connection with support groups, etc. are also available.

ELDER SERVICES

  • Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

    • Contact: (617) 628-2601, 61 Medford St., Somerville

  • Somerville Council on Aging 

    • Contact: (617) 625-6600 x2300, 167 Holland St., Somerville
    • The Somerville Council on Aging supports older adults in their efforts to maintain their independence by enhancing growth, dignity, and a sense of belonging in mind, body, and spirit while aging in place. Provides access to fitness, health, and wellness activities, socialization opportunities, educational programs, transportation, and support services.