The information below provides links to resources in, or close to, Somerville. For a broader geographical area see also CHA's Resource Guide.
Connect with your Community
City of Somerville Official Website
Lots more information about living, working, playing, raising a family, and growing old in Somerville is available on the City of Somerville's website.
The local community hosts a variety of listserves and newsletters to help keep families in the know: See below below to join the mailing lists.
City of Somerville News provides a regular update to keep you on top on events and news in your neighborhood. Click here to sign up.
"Connections" the Somerville Public Schools Newsletter goes out weekly.
"Community Health Happenings" is a monthly newsletter from the Cambridge Health Alliance, It is NOT an all-inclusive list but seeks to represent a wide range of opportunites that may impact the health of Somerville Residents. Click here for an electronic copy, or to be added to the distribution list please send an email to lbrukilacchio@challiance.org with the subject line "Health Happenings."
"Somerville Moms" is a listserve of over 4000 parents covering a wide range of parenting topics with a particular focus on Somerville. Click here for information on how to subscribe.
WAYS TO GIVE BACK
Whether you are looking for regular hours or would like to come out for a one-time event, both the City of Somerville's Community Services Manager Chris Hosman and the Somerville Public Schools' Volunteer Coordinator Jen Capuano would be delighted to hear from you! Somerville's local non-profits, many of which are listed on this page, are also often grateful for volunteer hours or donations. Please contact them directly to see how you can help.
family support
Somerville:
Parent Information Center (PIC) 42 Prescott St, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-6600 ext 6962
The Parent Information Center (PIC) guides families through the process of registering students for school, and helps families find local resources and services necessary to support their child's education and development throughout their lives. PIC staff members speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and French.
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) 42 Prescott St, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-6600 ext 6966
The SFLC supports parents and caregivers as they raise, nurture, and educate their children. The SFLC provides literacy playgroups (led in English, Portuguese, and Spanish), parent workshops, family events and activities, new moms’ groups, developmental screenings, and leadership opportunities.
Catholic Charities 270 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-1920
Catholic Charities in Somerville hosts an array of programs addressing basic needs, parenting programs, an after-school program for teens, elder social services, and a variety of shelters.
Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) 66-70 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 623-7370
CAAS currently has two main programs: Head Start and The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP). The Homelessness Prevention Program at CAAS works hard to keep low-income Somerville residents in their homes. We help families and individuals to achieve more stable housing and to access any benefits for which they might be eligible. Through eviction prevention, case management, income maximization, and cooperation with other service providers and agencies, we support the CAAS mission of working to reduce poverty among local families and individuals. If you feel that your housing might be in jeopardy for any reason, please contact us.
Parenting Journey 366 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 628-8815
Parenting Journey provides positive, strengths-based programs for parents and caregivers, helping them to develop skills that benefit the entire family, as well as train human service professionals interested in becoming trained Parenting Journey facilitators.
Food/Clothing/financial/utilities assistance
Somerville:
2017 Somerville Food Resource Guide , produced and updated by the Somerville Food Coalition
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 366 Broadway Suite 102, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 575-5330
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program is a nutrition program that provides personalized nutrition consultations, breastfeeding support, referrals to our community health care services, and checks for free, nutritious food tailored to supplement the dietary needs of our participants. Services are provided to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to age five.
Elizabeth Peabody House Emergency Food Pantry 275-277 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 623-5510
The EPH provides individuals and families in need with fresh fruits and vegetables, dry good and dairy products on a weekly basis. Our pantry is set up like a small grocery store and community members are invited to come one time per month to get the food that they need.
Project Soup 1 Davis Square, Somerville, MA (617) 776-7687
Project SOUP, New England’s first free supper program, hosts community suppers on Mondays at 5pm at the First Congregational Church of Somerville (89 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144). It also has a main food pantry at Saint Benedict’s Church (rear basement, 15 Franklin St, East Somerville, MA 02145), and an emergency food pantry at its office location at 1 Davis Square. Project SOUP staff provides clients with assistance filling out food stamp applications, gives clients referrals to other agencies, and provides health and nutrition outreach.
Somerville Summer Meals Program Various Locations Across Somerville, MA (617) 629-5200
Free meals all summer for Somerville youth. Free breakfast and lunch at various locations across the city of Somerville prepared by the public schools’ award-winning Food and Nutrition Services department for youth under the age of 19. Visit the website listed for up-to-date locations and times.
Somerville Community Corporation (617) 776-5931
Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) (617) 623-7370
The mission of CAAS is to reduce poverty among local families and individuals.
Salvation Army Emergency Assistance (617) 547-3400
Surrounding Areas:
Department of Transitional Assistance (SNAP/Food Stamps etc) (887) 382-2363
Somerville Food Coalition Online Resource
The Food Coalition meets each month to discuss the barriers to food security for Somerville, Cambridge and Medford residents, particularly vulnerable populations, and looks to find solutions to these barriers. Their website includes links to the schedules of free community meals and food pantries every day of the week, as well as emergency food services.
Project Bread: Getting Snap 145 Border St, East Boston, MA 02128 (800) 645-8333
Project Bread is the leading antihunger organization in Massachusetts, and is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. Gettingsnap.org is an online resource to help answer your questions and determine your eligibility for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This was formerly known as the Food Stamps Program.
City of Cambridge Fuel Assistance (also serving Somerville) DHSP, 51 Inman St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 349 6252
Call for information on eligibility for heating assistance and weatherization as well as discounts on telephone and utilities
General Advocacy
Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) 66-70 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 623-7370
CAAS currently has two main programs: Head Start and The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP). The Homelessness Prevention Program at CAAS works hard to keep low-income Somerville residents in their homes. We help families and individuals to achieve more stable housing and to access any benefits for which they might be eligible. Through eviction prevention, case management, income maximization, and cooperation with other service providers and agencies, we support the CAAS mission of working to reduce poverty among local families and individuals. If you feel that your housing might be in jeopardy for any reason, please contact us.
Health
Somerville:
Somerville Department of Health and Human Services 50 Evergreen Ave, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 625-6600 ext 4000
The City of Somerville Health and Human Services Department is committed to the protection of the health of our community through our work in disease prevention, community engagement, and the promotion of healthy behaviors.
Cambridge Health Alliance
Somerville Hospital (617) 591-4920
Health Insurance (617) 665-1100
New Patients Line (617) 665-1305
Cambridge Health Alliance is a vibrant, innovative health system dedicated to providing essential services to all members of the community. With over 140,000 patients in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s Metro North, CHA is a local provider of choice for primary care, specialty care, emergency services, hospital care, and behavioral health.
Health Care for All (617) 350-7279
Massachusetts organization dedicated to making adequate and affordable health care accessible to everyone regardless of income, social or economic status
MassHealth Online Resource (800) 841-2900
The mission of MassHealth is to improve the health outcomes of our diverse members, their families and their communities, by providing access to integrated health care services that sustainably promote health, well-being, independence, and quality of life. Go to the website listed to learn more about and/or apply for health insurance coverage.
Somerville Teen Health Center 81 Highland Ave, Somerville High School (617) 575-5690
Serving teenagers and young adults from our school and our community
MENTAL HEALTH
Cambridge Health Alliance Mental Health (617) 591 6033 (Adults) (617 665-3458 (Children)
Community Legal and Counseling Center (617) 661-1010
Guidance Center Family Clinic/Riverside Community Care (617) 284-5130
BEST (Mental Health Emergency Services Provider) 1 800 981 HELP
Home Visiting and Family Services
Somerville:
Riverside Early Head Start @ Somerville 474 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 629-6652
Riverside Early Head Start is a program for low-income families with infants and toddlers, as well as pregnant women. The program is designed to support families by promoting healthy prenatal care, infant/toddler care, and the well-being of the entire family. The goal is to give their young children a head start in their intellectual, social, and emotional development.
Early Intervention and Early Intervention Partnerships Program 12 Tyler St, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 629-3919
Our Early Intervention Services supports families and their children, from birth to age three, with a broad range of needs. Typical issues that are addressed on a daily basis include an infant who isn’t gaining weight, a toddler with speech delays, or a young child having trouble walking. Our program offers therapeutic, educational and family support services for infants and toddlers that are delayed, disabled, or at-risk. These services include screening and assessment, home visits, group and individual center based therapies, toddler groups, parent education, and support groups.
Eliot Cambridge/Somerville Early Intervention (339) 227-1020
Eliot Early Intervention helps children from birth to three years of age who may have some delay in development or be at risk for delay. We provide services where the client needs them including at the child's home, in our offices, at daycare or other community setting. Most services are covered by healthi nsurance and are always provided to eligible children with no cost to the family.
Parent-Child Home Program 42 Prescott St, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-6600 ex 6992
The Parent Child Home Program (PCHP) is a school readiness and family support program for parents and their two- and three-year-old children who have limited access to educational opportunities that promote learning and language development. Home visitors from the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative work with families twice a week for two years, helping children gain the literacy skills necessary to enter Kindergarten ready to succeed.
Surrounding Areas:
Jewish Family and Children's Services Healthy Families 1430 Main St, Waltham, MA 02451 (781) 693-1232 Visiting Moms (781) 647 -5327
JF&CS Healthy Families and Visiting Moms programs are voluntary, confidential home visiting programs for first-time pregnant and/or parenting moms and dads under the age of 21. Home visits are provided weekly for the first six months of the baby’s life and then are adjusted to meet the family’s needs until the child turns three. The program works with each family to define their strengths and to set and achieve personal goals, learn about child development and parenting, and work towards becoming the parent they want to be. Somerville contact is Andrea Siano, Program Coordinator. asiano@jfcsboston.org.
Housing
Somerville:
Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) 66-70 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 623-7370
See Community Action Agency of Somerville under Family Support.
Somerville Homeless Coalition 1 Davis Square, Somerville MA 02144 (617) 623-6111
The mission of the Somerville Homeless Coalition is to provide homeless and near homeless individuals and families with individualized supportive services and tailored housing solutions with a goal of obtaining and maintaining affordable housing.
Somerville Housing Authority 30 Memorial Road, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 625-1152
Our goal is to assist low and moderate income families, the elderly and the disabled to help them to find housing that is clean, decent and sanitary. We act as advocates for residents and serve the needs of our those who live here as we encourage individuals to achieve maximum independence.
City of Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development: Housing Division City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave, Somerville, MA
The mission of the City's Housing Division is to deliver resources and services that promote and affordable, livable and sustainable community for all residents of Somerville.
Somerville Community Corporation 337 Somerville Ave second floor, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 776 5931
SCC is committed to preserving and producing that is affordable for all segments of the population in Somerville, both through our own work in real estate development and by influencing policies that result in more affordable housing.
Immigrant/multilingual Services
Somerville:
The Welcome Project 530 Mystic Ave, #111, Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 623-6633
The Welcome Project builds the collective power of Somerville immigrants to participate in and shape community decisions. We do this through programs that strengthen the capacity of immigrant youth, adults and families to advocate for themselves and influence schools, government, and other institutions. We are based at the Mystic Public Housing Development, and we work with immigrants throughout the city. Our efforts combine services, leadership development and opportunities for civic engagement.
SomerViva: City of Somerville Immigrant Outreach and Services Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143
SomerViva is the City's immigrant outreach program working to connect our immigrant residents with the City's services, engage them in processes and celebrant our City's diverse culture.
Free Classes at the Somerville Libraries Learn English, get one-on-one help with technology (setting up email, applying for jobs and more) at the Somerville Libraries
English Classes for Adults at SCALE
Surrounding Areas:
Centro Presente 12 Bennington St, Suite 202, East Boston MA 02128 (857) 256-2981
Established in 1981, Centro Presente is a member-driven, statewide Latin American organization dedicated to the self-determination and self-sufficiency of the Latin American immigrant community of MA.
Massachusetts Alliance of Portugese Speakers 1046 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02143 (617) 864-7600
MAPS provides a wide range of health and human services to Portuguese speakers and other residents of eastern Massachusetts. They also have a Somerville location available by appointment only, located at 92 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143.
MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition)105 Chauncy St #901 Boston (617) 350 5480
MIRA is a statewide coalition of over 130 organizations promoting the rights and integration immigrants and refugees.
The Haitian Coalition 268 Powder House Blvd #17c, Somerville, MA 02144 (617) 625 6400
The Haitian Coalition is non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the social, educational and economic development of Haitian Youth and Families living in Somerville and the Greater Boston area.
Legal Support
Somerville:
Cambridge/Somerville Legal Services 60 Gore St, Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 603-2700
Our mission is to provide free legal assistance to as many low-income families as possible to help them secure some of the most basic necessities of life. We are the agency to which other providers refer clients when no one else can help and legal assistance is needed.
Surrounding Areas:
Legal Advocacy and Resource Center 197 Friend St, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 603-1700
The LARC helps low-income Massachusetts residents with legal problems by providing quality legal information and advice, and by making referrals to legal and social service agencies.
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center One West Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 661-1010
CLSACC provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling for people with low incomes.Our sevices combat the effects of poverty and violence by helping clients and their children meet basic human needs for safety, income, health and housing.
Teen Parent Support
Somerville:
COPE Program 81 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-6600 ext 6156
The COPE (Co-operative Parenting Education) Program is designed to help pregnant and parenting teens in the Somerville School system maintain their academic focus for high school graduation while learning parenting skills. Students work closely with their COPE counselor who helps them access community support services such as daycare, midwives and doulas, academic tutoring, mental health services, and home visiting programs.
Jewish Families and Children's Service Healthy Families 1430 Main St. Waltham MA 02451 (781) 693 1232
JF&SC Healthy Families and Visiting Moms porgrams are voluntary, confidential home visiting programs for first-time pregnant moms and/or parenting Moms and Dads under the age of 21. Home visits are provided weekly for the first six months of a baby's life and then are adjusted to meet the families' needs until the child turns three. The program works with each family to define their strengths and set and achieve personal goals and learn about child development and parenting and become the parent they want to be.
Just-A-Start House (617) 494-0444
Through JAS House and our JAS Next-Step program we help at-risk teen mothers and their children, providing them with shelter and the tools and lifeskills they need they need to successfully transition in to independent housing. Education, vocational training, money management and parenting skills are taught at the JAS house, and the Next-Step program provides support to young parents as they transition to independent living.
24 Hotline Support
City of Somerville 311
Massachusetts Substance Abuse Hotline 1(800) 327-5050
Poison Control 1 (800) 222-1222
Rape Crisis Center (617) 492-8306
RESPOND (Domestic Violence) (617) 623-5900
Samaritans (Suicide Prevention) 1(877) 870-4673
Somerville Police / Fire Department
Emergency 911
Police - non-emergency (617) 625-1600
Fire Dept - non-emergency (617) 623-1700
