Resident Resources and Community Links

Childcare and Family Activity Resources

Food Resources

  • Elizabeth Peabody House Emergency Food Pantry  (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. The 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 (617) 776-7687
    Community suppers on Mondays at 5pm at the First Congregational Church of Somerville (89 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144). There is 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. Assistance filling out food stamp applications and referrals to other agencies.
  • Somerville Summer Meals Program  (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.
  • Somerville Food Security Coalition Online resource
    The Food Security Coalition website includes links to the schedules of free community meals and food pantries every day of the week, as well as emergency food services.
  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)  (617) 575-5330
    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.

Financial Resources

Health Resources

  • Cambridge Health Alliance Somerville Hospital (617) 591-4920
    Health Insurance (617) 665-1100
    New Patients Line (617) 665-1305
    Mental Health: (617) 591-6033 (Adults) (617) 665-3458 (Children)
    CHA is a local provider for primary care, specialty care, emergency services, hospital care, and behavioral health.
  • Health Care for All  (800) 272-4232
    State organization advocating for accessible health care regardless of income, social or economic status
  • Guidance Center Family Clinic/Riverside Community Care  (617) 284-5130
    Behavioral healthcare and human services, services related to mental health, developmental and brain injury, early childhood programs, addiction, trauma response, and more.
  • BEST (Mental Health Emergency Services Provider)  1-800-981-HELP
    Staff at the call center provide support, information, referral, or arrange an in-person evaluation for those undergoing a mental health crisis. 

Home Visiting and Family Services

  • Early Intervention and Early Intervention Partnerships Program  (617) 629-3919
    Early Intervention Services supports families and their children, from birth to age three, with a broad range of needs. Offerings of therapeutic, educational and family support services for infants and toddlers that are delayed, disabled, or at-risk.
  • Parent-Child Home Program  (617) 625-6600 ex 6992 
    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.

Housing Resources

  • Department of Transitional Assistance (617) 551-1700 
    Emergency Housing resources, resources for food and benefits including SNAP and welfare.
  • Department of Housing and Community Development (DCHD) (617) 573-1100 
    DHCD provides professional assistance and financial resources to promote safe, decent affordable housing opportunities, economic vitality of communities and sound municipal management.
  • HUD Regional Office-Boston   (617) 994-8200  
    HUD's mission is to increase home ownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.
  • Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP)  (617)859-0400
    MBHP's mission is to ensure that the region’s low- and moderate-income individuals and families have choice and mobility in finding and retaining decent affordable housing. Programs include RAFT and housing consumer education center.
  • Somerville Homeless Coalition (617) 623-6111
    Passages case management, advocacy, preventative and stabilization services, emergency shelters, food assistance.
  • Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development: Housing Division 
    Obtain housing resources that promote an affordable, livable and sustainable community for all residents of Somerville.
  • Short Stop, Inc. (617) 776-3377
    Housing and transitional care for youth 18-22 from surrounding area. Education and vocational support.
  • Somerville Community Corporation  (617) 776-5931
    SCC is committed to preserving and producing that is affordable for all segments of the population in Somerville, both through their work in real estate development and by influencing policies that result in more affordable housing.

Immigrant/Multilingual Services serving Somerville

  • Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese speakers (MAPS)  Cambridge (617) 864-7600  Somerville 617-764-2091
    MAPS offers a wide range of health and human services to Portuguese speakers and other residents of eastern Massachusetts.
  • MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition)  (617) 350-5480
    MIRA is a statewide coalition of over 130 organizations promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees.
  • The Welcome Project   (617) 623-6633
    The Welcome Project hosts programs that strengthen the capacity of immigrant youth, adults and families to advocate for themselves and influence schools, government, and other institutions. The Welcome Project runs ESOL courses day/evening and a number of youth programs.

Legal Support

  • Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (617) 495-4408
    Direct client services including employment and family law, Domestic Violence, housing, and disability rights
  • Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services (617) 603-2700
    Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services (CASLS) provides free legal assistance to low income families and individuals residing in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Woburn, and Winchester.
  • Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (617) 423-0648
    Direct client services including Family Law, Guardianship, Probate (Wills & Estates), Bankruptcy, Unemployment Insurance, and Consumer Debt

Supportive agencies for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

  • SCM Transportation/Door2door (617) 625-1191
    Transportation for medical appointments/grocery
  • Somerville Council on Aging (617) 625-6600 ext. 2300
    Wrap around services for seniors-3 senior centers, housing assistance/advocacy, case management, referrals, health and wellness programs and workshops
  • Somerville Cambridge Elder Services (617) 628-2601
    Services for elders and younger persons with disabilities; information and referral, caregiver support, Fall prevention, self-management programs, SHINE, housekeeping assistance, transportation, meals and nutrition counseling and services, financial advocacy , ombudsman, Adult Family Care, Protective services, & more!
  • Cerebral Palsy Group is an online resource for anyone who has been affected by cerebral palsy, birth injuries, or brain injuries. The Group was created to provide answers and all types of assistance needed to help improve the quality of life for loved ones and family members with cerebral palsy.

Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence

  • Respond, Inc. (617) 623-5900
    Counseling, referral for emergency shelter, and related services to battered women and their children. Support and services are available to women whether or not they are ready to leave the battering relationship. Referral to shelter is available.
  • SAFELINK Hotline 1-877-785-2020
    Information about which emergency shelters have beds each night.

Abuse Hotlines

  • Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-792-5200
    This hotline will lead to investigation and efforts to address child abuse.
  • Disabled Abuse Hotline 1-800-426-9009
    This hotline will lead to investigation and efforts to address abuse against persons with a disability.
  • Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-922-2275
    This hotline will lead to investigation and efforts to address abuse against seniors.

For emergencies, dial 9-1-1

For Non-Emergencies, call the Somerville Police Department at (617) 625-1600