Directory
of Resources
for
People
Homeless in Cambridge
(substantially updated June
12, 2001)
Table
of Contents
Shelter
for Homeless Families page
1
Shelter
for Battered Women and Their Children page
1
Shelter
for Homeless Individuals page
1
Shelter
and Services for Homeless and Runaway Youth page
2
Daytime
Drop-In Programs page
2
Transitional
Housing page
3
Street
Outreach and Non-Residence-Based Case Management page 3
Meal
Programs and Food Pantries page
4
Services
for Veterans page
5
Housing
Search and Help with Up-Front Transitional Costs page 6
Moving
Help and Assistance with Furnishing a Household page
6
Representative
Payee and Money Management Assistance page
6
Emergency
Financial Assistance (for Non-Housing-Related Costs) page 6
Education
and Employment page
7
Health
Care page
9
Services
for People With HIV/AIDS page
9
Eye
Exams and Glasses page
9
Addiction
Services page
10
Mental
Health Care page
10
Dental
Care page
11
Services
for Victims of Domestic Violence page
11
Legal
Assistance page
11
Child
Care and Family Support Services page
12
Clothing page
12
Other
Services page
13
Ø
obtaining a Mass. ID
Ø
voice mail accounts
Ø
help for ex-offenders
Ø
obtaining a Discount T Pass for
Persons with Disabilities
Ø
self-advocacy training
Ø
free income tax assistance
How to
Access Services: In most cases, unless otherwise noted, services listed herein do
not require referrals from a case manager or other provider, and can be
accessed by homeless persons directly.
If a referral is required, consumers staying in a shelter or transitional
program should first request a referral from staff of that program; if no staff
referral is available, contact one of the non-residence-based case management
programs described on page 3 for help.
Services for Non-English Speaking Persons:
• Interpreter
services for most common languages are available through Concilio Hispano
(617-661-9406) at no charge.
• Interpreter
services for patients at Cambridge
Hospital and its Health Centers is available by calling 617-665-1426
(617-665-1280
for French/Haitian Kreyol,
617-665-1550 for Portuguese,
617-665-1783 for Spanish)
• Specialized services for persons from
other linguistic communities are offered by the following agencies:
> Portuguese:
Mass. Association of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) (617-628-6065)
> Spanish:
Centro Presente (497-9080) & Concilio Hispano (617-661-9406)
> Haitian
Kreyol: Cambridge Haitian Services (617-349-6351, 617-349-6338)
Please forward changes / corrections to Fred Berman
ph:617-349-6209, fax:
617-349-6357, e-mail:
fberman@ci.cambridge.ma.us
Shelter for Homeless Families
Families seeking shelter
should contact the Mass. Department of
Transitional Assistance (1 Davis Sq; Somerville 02144; 617-629-1400), which
arranges placement for families determined to be homeless and eligible for Emergency
Assistance (same income as TAFDC).
There are very few shelter beds available for non-EA-eligible
families. For advocacy support in gaining DTA approval for shelter placement, or
for help finding shelter at one of the
few programs serving EA-ineligible families, contact the Multi-Service
Center (617-349-6340).
The following family shelters receive referrals from the
DTA for EA-eligible families:
• Cambridge
YWCA (contact: Lynn Leahy, 617-491-6050)
• Hildebrand
Family Self-Help Center (contact: Lore D'Eon, 617-492-2797)
Crittenton
Hastings Scattered Site Units at Fresh Pond Apartments (362-364 Rindge Av.)
(contact:
Monique Tasker, 617-782-7600)
Metropolitan
Boston Housing Partnership Scattered Site Units at Fresh Pond Apartments
(362-364 Rindge Av.)
(contact:
Paulette Gomes 617-859-0400 ext. 757
or Yoshiko Okazaki 617-859-0400 ext. 751)
Shelter for Battered Women and Their Children
Battered women and their
children can call Transition House
(617-661-7203, 24 hrs.) for emergency
shelter, hotline assistance, and referrals for other support services. (staff phone: 617-591-6800 or 617-354-2676)
Shelter for Homeless Individuals (see also
"Veterans Services" on page 5)
Other homeless adults must
locate a shelter bed on their own. All of the following shelters -- except
CASPAR's Emergency Service Center at 240Albany St. -- require sobriety, and
require that guests reserve their bed, in some cases, by as early as 7:30 AM. Beds fill quickly, especially in cold/bad weather. Always
call first. If Cambridge shelters are full, accessible van transportation to Boston overflow shelters is
available from that evening's community meal
(see listing of community meals on p.4 of this Directory). Note that by individual arrangement, some
shelters are able to offer emergency beds on an extended basis to a limited
number of guests who meet shelter-specific criteria.
Shelter |
Services / Restrictions |
Means of Access |
402 Mass.
Av. (617-547-3400) |
short term & extended
stay beds for sober men only, with
case management, substance abuse and vocational counseling |
go there |
Shelter Inc. 109 School
St. (617-547-1885) |
short term & extended
stay beds for sober men & women,
with case management |
referral required (e.g.,
Multi-Service Center staff); calls
taken from 10AM until shelter is full |
First Church 11 Garden
St. (617-661-1873) |
extended stay beds for sober men only |
referral required to get
on waiting list; consumer calls to maintain wait list status |
240 Albany
St. (617-661-0600) |
beds for men & women who are
"under the influence"; shelter for more than one night requires
proof of history of Cambridge or Somerville residency; separate beds for guests seeking active support for recovery; wheelchair
accessible |
go there |
66 Wintrop
St. (617-547-2841) |
Short term & extended
stay beds for sober men & women; Open 11/15 to 4/15 only |
consumer should call at
7:30AM |
St. Patricks' Shelter Union Sq., Somerville (617-628-3015) |
Short term & extended
stay beds for sober women only,
with case management |
4 PM lottery at pick-up
site: Multi-Service Center (19 Brookline St) |
Shelter and Emergency Services for Homeless and Runaway
Youth
Youth (age 14-25) at-risk
of homelessness (runaways, street youth, homeless youth) can obtain a range of services (counseling,
medical/dental care, emergency shelter, family intervention, substance abuse
and AIDS/HIV counseling, assistance with education and employment) from Bridge Over Troubled Waters
(617-423-9575; 47 West St; Boston)
Bridge deploys street outreach
workers and a medical van in Harvard Square.
All shelter placements of youth under 18 must be arranged through the
Mass. Department of Social Services.
Call the
DSS Child-At-Risk Hotline (800-792-5200, 24 hrs.) or work with Bridge to arrange
for shelter services through the DSS.
Wayside/ShortStop
(617-776-3377; 1323 Broadway; Somerville 02144) operates a transitional housing program for homeless youth, offering a range of social, educational, and
pre-vocational services. Referrals
through DSS or DYS.
Youth on Fire (see
"Drop-In Programs" below) offers homeless and at-risk youth a safe place to rest and receive
services.
Daytime Drop-In Programs (see also "Veterans
Services" on page 5)
All but one (CASPAR Emergency
Service Center) of the following daytime drop-in programs require that guests
be sober. Hours may vary by season, so call the individual program for exact
information:
The Salvation Army (617-547-3400; 402 Mass
Av) operates a drop-in weekdays
8:30-3:45, Saturdays 11:30-1, and
Sundays
1:30-3.
Daily lunch and a spread of other food, showers, laundry facilities, and
clothing. Staff social
workers are available to help with referrals. Tues. & Thurs. NA meetings (11AM). Optional structured activities.
• Shelter Inc.
(617-547-1885; 109 School St.) operates a women's
only drop-in weekdays
10:30-2:30. Guests are
offered lunch, access to a nap room, showers, clothing, help
with referrals, the option to participate in some
structured activities, and counseling.
• Bread and Jams
(617-441-3831 OR 617-354-8982) operates
a drop-in in the basement of Old
Cambridge Baptist Church
(1151 Mass Av. near Harvard Sq) weekdays 10-5. Staff provide assistance accessing housing,
employment,
benefits, and services.
Guests may shower, use the Center's typewriters, computers, telephones
(guests may
receive calls), and microwave oven. The Center is staffed and run by formerly homeless persons
CASPAR Emergency Service Center
(617-661-0600; 240 Albany St) is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day as
a drop-in and shelter for active
substance abusers (no drugs or alcohol on premises). During the day, the Center
offers guests lunch, access to showers and laundry, and a
place to rest off the street. Substance
abuse counselors
are available to support guests seeking help with recovery.
CASPAR's Phoenix Center (617-666-9947;
156 Highland St. (rear); Somerville) is open weekdays 9 to 5 for
persons in substance abuse recovery. The Center offers guests individual counseling support, access to
AA meetings and early recovery groups, help with referrals to
other program and services, and coffee/snacks.
• On the Rise (617-497-7968)
operates a Safe Haven for Women (341
Broadway, off Inman St.), with a focus on
serving chronically homeless women and women with multiple
needs. Open Mon 9-1, Tues & Thurs
9-3, Weds & Fri 9-5,
and most Saturdays 8-4.
Staff are available to provide long-term, broad-based support and
advocacy, including assistance
accessing necessary resources or services; also available is a
shower, nap space, clothing, snacks, and a laundry
• Youth on Fire (617-661-2508;
at 1555 Mass Av in the basemnt of Harvard Epworth Church off Cambridge Common)
is
a drop-in for homeless and at-risk youth (age 14-24) open Mon/Weds/Fri 12-6. Operated by Camb. Cares
About AIDS,
the center offers food, counseling support, clothes, a library,
computers, and games. Additional
services are planned.
Ruby Rogers Advocacy and Drop In Center
(617-625-9933; 71 Union Sq.) is open Mon-Sun 11AM - 5PM for former
and current patients at mental hospitals, and persons at-risk
of psychiatric hospitalization. The
Drop-In is
member-governed, and provides self-help, socializing, and
advocacy.
The Cambridge Somerville Social Club
(617-576-6570; 54 Essex St.) is open weekdays 3-7PM, Saturdays 1-7PM, and
Sundays 1-6PM for persons who receive mental health
services. The Drop-In provides a place
to
socialize, cook/dine, read, play music, paint, etc. In addition, staff provide vocational
counseling, run a career
support group, and supervise a small number of stipended
positions (e.g., snack bar, performing arts program)
The Women's Center (617-354-8807; 46
Pleasant St. near Central Square) is a collectively run Center where any woman
can obtain information,
referrals, and emotional support from staff and volunteers; can access printed information
about programs, services, events, jobs, health issues, etc.; can obtain low cost ($1-$12) therapy from
professionals who donate their time; or can participate in one of several
support groups. (M-Th:10AM-10PM, Fri:10AM-8PM, Sat:11AM-4PM).
Transitional
Housing -- (see
also "Residential Treatment Programs" listed under "Addiction
Services")
(see
also Shelters offering "extended stay" beds)
Note:
Each program has it's own eligibility guidelines and participation
requirements.
Carey Program (for men) at the YMCA (managed by the Cambridge Multi-Service Center;
19 Brookline Street) Contact Stephen Johnson (617-349-6349)
• Women's Transitional Program at the YWCA
(managed by the Cambridge Multi-Service Center;
19 Brookline Street) Contact Zelia Pacheco Kelleher
(617-349-6347)
Men's Transitional Program at the Salvation Army (402 Mass.
Av.) Contact Val Harris (617-547-3400)
• Men's Program (YMCA) and Women's Program (YWCA) for people with HIV/AIDS (managed by Cambridge Cares
About AIDS; 678 Mass. Ave. - 4th floor; Contact Shelley Correia (617-661-3040 x22)
CASPAR Bridge Program (Men's Graduate Housing) at the YMCA: contact Jessica Zike, 617-661-9622 x107)
• CASPAR GROW House (Women's Graduate
Housing): contact Virginia at 617-547-8141 or 617-661-6020)
• Common Ground Women's Transitional
Program (at Shelter, Inc; contact Theresa Elliott, 617-499-4052)
• Mid-Point Family Transitional Program (scattered
sites; contact Joseph Boateng, 617-349-6350)
• Phillips Brooks House (summer)
Transitional Program (for men and women) (mid-June to mid August)
at St. James Church (1991 Mass Av.
in Porter Sq.): contact 617-576-1716
Street Outreach & Non-Residence-Based Case
Management
The Cambridge Multi-Service Center (617-349-6340;
19 Brookline St.) provides a range of services to homeless persons and
families, including short-term case
management. Staff have expertise in
addressing the needs of elders, persons with disabilities, families, and single
individuals who are homeless. Clients
may receive referrals for a range of services, including services furnished by
other providers offering on-site hours, including housing search, mental health and substance abuse counseling, money
management, and legal assistance. Staff involved in housing search have access
to limited funds to help support transitions to new housing out of
homelessness. The MSC also manages a
very limited source of funds available as a last resort to preventing eviction.
Field-Based Case Management services are being reorganized under HomeStart at this
time. Program staff can meet with and provide information and assistance to
homeless persons at safe, mutually convenient locations anywhere in the
community: meal sites, drop-ins, coffee shops, etc.; and can continue providing
assistance even after a client changes her/his place of residence. Case managers can assist clients in
obtaining public benefits; share information about and help clients access a
wide range of local resources and services; and help clients plan and implement
successful strategies for obtaining next-step housing and/or employment. The
program also manages a small cash assistance/loan fund (see also p.6) which can
help clients cover the cost of goods or services necessary for progressing
towards employment/housing (e.g., replacing lost ID, obtaining a drivers
license, purchasing a T-pass, etc.).
Program services are targeted to homeless persons who lack ready access
to other sources of case management; however, staff may also collaborate with
and augment the efforts of existing case managers to address unmet needs.
CASPAR's First Steps Street Outreach Team for Cambridge and Somerville (contact Michelle O'Brien,
617-666-7227) deploys three teams of van-based
street outreach workers on overlapping shifts covering weekdays
8AM-midnight and weekends 8AM-4PM.
Teams are especially trained and prepared to assist actively substance abusing homeless persons access either shelter
or detox services.
On the Rise
(617-497-7968) deploys street outreach
workers who can provide long term support and case management for unsheltered and other homeless women
who are unable or unwilling to receive necessary services from more traditional
providers. (See also services listed
under Daytime Drop-In Programs.)
Meal
Programs
(Note: The Salvation Army's meal's are accessible, but their women's
bathrooms are not.)
FOR SENIORS ONLY (AGE 60 OR OLDER)
Breakfasts (8:30-9:30 daily at
Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass Av., Central Sq.) - suggested donation $0.70
Lunches (at various locations,
reservations required unless noted) - suggested donation $1.25
>
Citywide Senior Center: daily 11:30-1, no
reservation required, 806 Mass Av. in Central Square (617-349-6060)
> North
Cambridge Senior Center: weekdays 11;30-1, 2050 Mass Av, near Porter Sq.
(617-349-6320)
> Mass.
Alliance for Portuguese Speakers: Mon-Sat 12-1, 1046 Cambridge St
(617-628-6065)
>
Salvation Army Silver Threads Program: Tues-Thurs 12-1, no donation requested, 402 Mass. Av. (617-547-3400)
>
Miller's River Apartments: daily 11:30-1, 15 Lambert St. (617-354-3789)
> Norfolk
St. House: daily 11:30-1, 116 Norfolk St. (617-868-7979)
> Burns
Apartments: daily 11:30-1, 50 Churchill Av. (617-492-7247)
> St.
Paul's Residence: daily 11:30-1, 34 Mt. Auburn St. (617-234-2973)
COMMUNITY BREAKFAST (ALL AGES) -- no charge
Thursdays: 9:30-11 in Central Square (sponsored by Food Not Bombs,
617-787-3436)
COMMUNITY LUNCHES (ALL AGES) -- no charge
• Weekdays:
12:00 Salvation Army (see note)(402
Mass Av., between MIT and Central Sq.) (617-547-3400)
11:30 -- Homeless
Women Only -- Shelter Inc. (Women's Time) Drop-In (109 School St.,
617-547-1885)
• Saturday:
11:30 Salvation Army (see note)
• Sunday:
1:30 Salvation Army (see note)
COMMUNITY DINNERS (ALL AGES) -- no charge
• Sun: Sponsored by Bread and Jams:
> May 1-Oct 15 -- 5:00 Cambridge Common (near Harvard Sq.)
> Oct 15-Apr 30 -- 6:00 St James (1991 Mass Av, Porter Sq.)
• Mon: 6:00
Mass. Av. Baptist Church (146 Hampshire St, Inman Sq.)
(617-868-4853)
• Tues: 5:30
First Parish Church (3 Church St., Harvard Sq.) (617-876-7772)
• Weds:
5:00 Salvation Army (see note) (402
Mass Av., between MIT and Central Sq.) (617-547-3400)
• Thurs:
6:00 Harvard Sq. Meals Program at
Christ Church (Zero Garden St.) (617-876-0200)
5:00
Union Baptist Church (874 Main St., Central Sq.) (617-864-6885)
5:45
Women's Gathering Place (1991 Mass Av., Porter Sq.) (Women Only 15 guest limit)
• Fri: 6:00
Mass. Av. Baptist Church (146 Hampshire St, Inman Sq.)
(617-868-4853)
• Sat: 5:30
Pilgrim Congregational Church (35 Magazine St, Central Sq.)
(617-497-7277)
Food
Pantries (call to verify
hours and/or requirements for access)
• CEOC (617-868-2900) 11 Inman St. (Central Sq.) Mon & Weds 4-6 PM Tues & Thurs 11-1PM
• St. James Church (617-547-4070) 1991 Mass. Av. (Porter Sq.)
Thurs & Sat 11-1PM Tues
6-8PM
Cambridge Senior Center
(617-349-6060) for Persons 60 and Older
-- 806 Mass. Av.
(opposite
City Hall) Tues 11:30-2PM, Thurs 11:30-2:30PM
• Margaret Fuller House (617-547-4680) 71 Cherry St Mon 9-12 noon, Thurs & Fri
9:30-12:30PM, & emergencies
• Cambridgeport Baptist Church (617-576-6779) 459 Putnam St. (near Magazine
St.) 1st & 3rd Sat 10-12 noon
St. Pauls AME Church (617-661-1110) 85 Bishop Allen Dr. Weds
12-2PM Sat 10-12 noon
• East End House (617-876-4444) 105 Spring St. weekdays
10-4PM, by referral only
• Western Av. Baptist Church (617-661-0433) 299 Western Av. 2nd
Weds 10-12 noon
Salvation Army (617-547-3400) 402 Mass. Av. Help
available daily, by appointment
Zinberg Clinic Pantry for patients with HIV/AIDS at The Cambridge Hospital (617-665-1606)
Services for Veterans
The New England
Shelter For Homeless Veterans (617-248-9400; 17 Court St. in
Boston) offers a range of services for homeless veterans, including emergency
and extended stay shelter, meals, case
management, assistance accessing public
benefits (e.g., SSI) and Veterans
Benefits (see list below), legal assistance, eyeglasses, dental care,
transitional and permanent housing, and employment. Shelter staff also facilitate access to substance abuse treatment
and lead groups for veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
The Cambridge
Department of Veterans Services (DVS) (617-349-4761; 51 Inman St, 2nd
fl.) can help eligible wartime veterans and their dependents access
state and federal benefits. (Eligible periods of military service may include
WWII, Korea, VietNam, Panama, Grenada, and the Persian Gulf conflict which is
considered by Congress to include any time from 1990 to the present.) Proof of
residence in a Cambridge home or residential program is required. Eligibility guidelines vary benefit to
benefit, and may be based, for example, on the nature of military service and
type of discharge (DVS staff can help veterans upgrade their discharge to qualify them for benefits); the
existence and extent of a disability, and the degree to which it is
service-related, if at all; the income and assets of the veteran/dependents;
and if the veteran is unemployed, the reasons why; etc. DVS staff can assist veterans and/or their
dependents in accessing:
• emergency cash assistance for food,
clothing, shelter (to prevent eviction or foreclosure, or to help with
transition from homelessness to housing), utilities, personal needs, insurance,
telephone, and transportation
• service-related
and non-service-related disability
pensions
• a
small monthly stipend ($155/month)
available to persons with a work history who are in job training or in a
rehabilitation program for substance abuse or mental illness (Veterans with a
criminal history or history of drug-related eviction may not be eligible;
veterans who receive this stipend and who are deemed "able to work"
must register with Career Source and take any available employment.)
• inpatient
and outpatient health care,
including coverage of medical, dental, hospital, or nursing home care
• education benefits (Veterans
enrolled in a degree program in a community college or state college or
university can get free tuition. A more
extensive education benefit is restricted to veterans with a service-connected
disability, any pre-90s veteran within 15 years of his/her (honorable)
discharge, and honorably discharged 90s veterans who have paid into an
education fund while in the military.)
• job
training and vocational rehabilitation – In addition to other
employment-related assistance, unemployed or underemployed recently separated or
VietNam Era or disabled veterans (homeless or not) may be eligible to
participate in the Vet Tech program
(617-371-1785, based at the New England Shelter at 17 Court Street; <http://www.ultranet.com/~ncentral/vettech1.html>),
which offers free job training and
placement support in culinary arts (16 weeks); commercial drivers' license training
(12 weeks to get a Class B License); computer
office applications (14 weeks on Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint,
etc.); computer support (19 weeks on
diagnostic and repair procedures on PC hardware, platforms, and peripherals); security guard (6 weeks including a
paid internship).
• survivor and/or burial benefits
The Veterans'
Benefits Clearinghouse (Boston, 617-445-7030) offers a
range of services to veterans and their families:
• employment and training services,
including job readiness counseling, skills assessment, skills training,
apprenticeship and job placement,
• readjustment
counseling and other mental health
support services,
• HIV/AIDS prevention and education
services,
• a
range of homelessness prevention services, including assistance finding affordable housing, and
• services targeting VietNam-era veterans
and their families, including counseling, Agent Orange screening, medical
and mental health referrals, drug & alcohol counseling and treatment
referrals, and help with housing.
U.S. Veterans
Administration medical facilities provides
honorably discharged veterans with free
health and mental health care and dental
care associated with a service-related dental problem. The sites closest to
Cambridge are:
V.A. Outpatient Clinic (617-248-1000) 251
Causeway St., Boston
V.A. Medical Center (617-232-9500) 150 South Huntington St.,
Boston
V.A. Hospital (781-275-7500) 200 Spring Rd., Bedford
Housing Search (See also
"Veterans Services" page 5)
Homeless
Families living in Cambridge shelters
receive housing search and post placement stabilization support from the
Homeless Intercept Program (contact:
Zelia Pacheco Kelleher; 617-349-6347, Multi-Service Ctr, 19 Brookline St.
Homeless
Individuals in Cambridge may receive housing
search and post-placement stabilization services from
Housing Resource Team (this program is
being reorganized: contact HomeStart) specializes in housing search for
homeless persons with disabilities and
homeless persons lacking other case management support
HomeStart
(at the Multi-Service Ctr, 19 Brookline St.; contact Sharon Kinsella
617-349-6394) serving homeless
persons with
viable incomes. Case manager referral
required, in most cases. Call 349-6340
for drop-in hours.
Multi-Service Center (19 Brookline St.; contact Nancy Daniels
617-349-6348) serves homeless elders and persons
with disabilities. Call for hours at the Cambridge Senior Center (806 Mass. Av.)
Lead Safe Cambridge (617-349-6011) State law
requires that landlords renting to families with young children de-lead their
apartments. Landlords may not refuse to
rent to such families because an apartment contains lead paint. Lead-Safe Cambridge can assist
apartment-hunters who suspect a landlord of violating that law, can help
landlords obtain financial assistance or tax credit for de-leading, and can provide interim housing for a tenant whose
apartment is being deleaded.)
Housing discrimination: See
"Cambridge Human Rights Comm." and "Fair Housing Center"
under "Legal Assistance" p.
11)
Moving Help & Assistance with Furnishing a Household (program/case manager referral required)
Solutions at Work (617-492-0300; 1151 Mass Av. -- basement) -- a
homeless-run, homeless-staffed organization provides moving assistance and free
used furniture & household furnishings (including refrigerators) to
people transitioning out of homelessness to transitional or permanent
housing. Warehouse visits (to select
furniture, etc.) by appointment only.
Mass. Coalition for the
Homeless (617-737-3430) - free furniture
for people moving out of homelessness -- No "layaway": customers must
take selected furniture with them (trucking help is available from Solutions at Work).
Emergency
Financial Assistance (See also veterans services, page 5)
• For Housing-Related Costs
> HomeStart
and the Multi-Service Center (see "housing search services" above,
for phone numbers) can provide limited
help to their housing search clients with last month's rent, security deposit,
and/or realtor fee. Although each
agency has its own eligiblity guidelines, generally speaking, help is
available only to persons who have saved enough money to cover most of these
up-front housing costs, and who have adequate income to sustain rent
payment. These agencies and the City's
Fuel Assistance office (617-349-6252)
can also help pay gas or electric
arrearages and help negotiate
payment plans to facilitate utility service in a new apartment.
> Additional
resources for housing costs may be obtained from the F.E.M.A. program (contact:
Catholic Charities, 617-625-1920 x111 or 103) from March until September (or
sooner if funds are exhausted).
• For Non-Housing-Related Costs
> The
United Way's First Call for Help
(1-800-231-4377) can direct homeless persons to sources of small
cash grants or loans to cover emergency needs.
> A
Missing Link Fund, managed by the Field Based Case Management Program (under
reorganization at this time) can
make small loans or grants to homeless persons to help cover the
otherwise-unmet costs of goods or services necessary to progress toward
next-step employment or housing (e.g., replacing identification, obtaining a
drivers license, purchasing a T pass, etc.). Client status in the FBCMP or a case manager referral is required.
Free help with money
management and budgeting is available to any interested homeless person; Representative Payee services are
available (cost: $5/month) to persons who receive Social Security, SSI, or
other income (incl. wages) and who because of disability or impaired judgment
cannot manage their money. (Persons with active drinking / drugging problems
must meet with a counselor and agree to participate in treatment.) Contact: Patrick Flaherty 617-234-2930. Staff can meet with clients anywhere in Cambridge. For info about office hours at the
Multi-Service Center, call 617-349-6340.
Education Note: Starred (***) resources do not exclusively serve persons who are
homeless.
See also North Charles
Institute under "Employment" below. (See also "Veterans Services" on page 5.)
Project LIFT at the
Community Learning Center (19 Brookline St;
contact: Nellie Dedmon 617-349-6363) offers a range of educational
services for homeless persons: English as a Second Language (ESL), GED,
literacy, math, and computer literacy classes
on a drop-in or enrollment basis; individual tutoring. Classes are held
at the Learning Center, at CCTV (also in Central Square), at Jefferson Park (a
CHA development in North Cambridge), and at other sites. The Learning Center may also be able to
arrange tutoring at shelters or other convenient sites.
***Mass.
Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) (617-776-2662; 5 Middlesex Av.,
Somerville) helps pay for education and job training for persons with
documented disabilities. GBRS (see
below) can help clients obtain MRC assistance.
Help finding scholarship resources is available from the Cambridge Employment Program and
Impact, listed below.
Employment Note: Starred (***) resources
do not exclusively serve persons who are homeless.
See also Mass. Rehabilitation
Commission under "Education" above. (See also "Veterans
Services" on page 5.)
***Cambridge
Employment Program (617-349-6166; 51 Inman St.):
Provides one-to-one employment assistance for work-ready Cambridge residents,
including career counseling, resume development, job search assistance including
sharing resumes with prospective employers, and help locating training
resources.
Impact (617-542-0338; 105 Chauncy St,
Boston): Employment assistance for work-ready homeless persons & persons
transitioning to housing.
Skills/aptitude assessment; resume preparation; help with job search;
employer contacts, access to word processors, telephones, voice mailbox, and
P.O. box. By referral only.
Solutions at Work (617-492-0300; at the Old Cambridge Baptist Church, 1151
Mass. Av) is a homeless-run, homeless-staffed organization that runs a number
of programs (moving service, furniture bank, children's clothing exchange,
self-advocacy training) serving homeless and low income persons. Solutions at Work provides transitional
employment for homeless persons seeking a supportive environment in which to
develop work skills and job experience.
GEAR (A program of
CASPAR) operates a clothing program
(156 Highland Av.- rear, in Somerville) and second-hand clothing store (217
Highland Av. in Somerville) which provides a range of employment opportunities
for homeless persons (i.e., for persons just entering the workforce, to
experienced persons seeking recent work references for their resume). Contact
Charleen Tierney at 617-591-1900. By referral only.
Spare Change (617-497-1595;
1151 Mass Av.) is a small
independent newspaper written and distributed by homeless and formerly homeless
persons. Homeless persons seeking
employment as vendors or wishing to submit an article (for which they can
receive a modest payment) should visit the office during business hours.
***Greater Boston
Rehabilitation Services (GBRS) (617-491-4200; 9
East St. near Lechmere Square) operates a range of programs intended to enhance
the work readiness and employability of persons with barriers to employment,
including but not limited to homelessness.
GBRS staff also assist work-ready clients with finding appropriate
employment. Funding for new clients is
extremely limited unless they are eligible for Department of Mental Health,
Department of Mental Retardation, or Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
(MRC) services.
Project Place (32 Rutland St. in Boston's South End) runs three
transitional employment programs for homeless persons with 90 days
sobriety. Case managers from
transitional programs should make referrals to Angie Felix at 617-262-3740.
"Clean Corners, Bright Hopes"is a 90-day program offering paid work
experience cleaning and maintaining streets in the Downtown Crossing and other
areas. Program graduates receive
assistance and/or referrals in their search for follow-up employment. "Project 90" is a 90 day program
offering training in office-based "soft skills" and internships in a
range of clerical and administrative positions. Program participants receive follow-up job search/placement
support. Project Place offers longer
term transitional employment stocking and maintaining Pepsi vending machines in
metropolitan Boston.
St. Francis House (617-542-4211;
39 Boylston St. in downtown Boston) offers a range of work-related services
including both group and individualized services, depending on the skills and
experience of the consumer; prospective clients should attend one of the
employment orientations offered at 9:30 AM several times a week. Services run the gamut from basic
preparation for employment to focused exploration of a client's vocational
possibilities and strengths, resume development, interviewing practice,
searching the Internet for jobs, and/or job matching with temp agencies. Counselors can also help with money
management skills, identifying ESL classes and other basic educational services
Employment (continued)
On the Job, a program of the Boston Rescue Mission in collaboration with Park Street
Church, at 3 Park St. in downtown Boston) offers paid on-the-job training in
janitorial services. On the Job
contracts with commercial and public buildings throughout the metropolitan
Boston area to provide cleaning services.
Trainees work at one or more of these sites, generally after 5PM in the
evening, for between 20 and 30 hours/week.
Trainees start at $6.50/hour, and are eligible for pay increases based
on periodic performance reviews after 30 days and six months. Participants may also earn a $1,000 housing
bonus, payable to a landlord, after six months and 600 hours of satisfactory
work. Case management support is
available to trainees, as well as referral for placement services. Call first for an appointment, 617-723-9480.
***The Title 5
Program at Somerville Cambridge
Elder Services (617-628-2601)
helps low income persons age 55 and
older explore (re-)entry into the workforce, beginning with part-time paid
placements with non-profit agencies.
Placements, which may last up to 2 years, pay minimum
wage stipends that do not count against eligibility for Food Stamps or housing
assistance. Under-65 persons receiving
SSDI or SSI/disability benefits, may obtain permission from the Social Security
Administration to participate in the program without losing their
benefits. Eligibility for disability benefits (based on inability to work) is
subject to review by Social Security after 9 months of Title 5 employment.
***North Charles
Institute (617-547-2992;
260 Beacon St. in Somerville), offers financial and educational support with
GED, community college, or college, and a range of employment services for
Cambridge and Somerville residents with a psychiatric disability that qualifies
them for DMH services.
Employment-related assistance includes vocational training, job
readiness training, resume development, job search assistance, interviewing
assistance, career exploration, and, for persons who have never been stably
employed or who have been out of the workforce for a long time transitional
employment (cleaning, landscaping, receptionist). Orientations Tuesdays from 9:15-11. Register first.
***Experience
Unlimited (617-876-3400; at the YWCA, 7 Temple St.; Cambridge) offers a
range of supports to mature job-seekers who have acquired skills and a work
history, but who are either having difficulty finding work, or are making job
or life changes. In addition to
telephones, internet access, and a range of printed resource materials
(directories, how-to books, etc.), the program provides access to support
groups, career and psychological counseling, free testing and evaluation,
referrals, job matching, and help finding training resources.
***E.R.I. Welfare
to Work Program (see
"Career Source"; Contact Susan Zall at 617-661-7867) intensive case
management (for however long needed, even if client re-locates out of
Cambridge) and support with job retention, plus limited funds for
transportation/clothing; serves (a) TAFDC recipients who have begun or are
about to begin work or community service, and (b) persons who've exhausted
TAFDC benefits; who also meet 1-2 of the following conditions: (i) no GED or HS
diploma, (ii) poor work history, (iii) requires substance abuse treatment.
Pine Street Inn offers residents
of its transitional housing programs the opportunity to participate in one of
four four-month transitional employment programs -- culinary arts, commercial
cleaning, warehousing (clothing sorting and sales), and computers. Each of these programs entail approximately
half-time paid positions, culminating in a six week paid internship with a
local business. Program graduates
receive housing search and job placement assistance and other support
associated with transitional housing.
The men's transitional housing is located in separate buildings on Long
Island; the women's transitional housing is near the Pine Street Inn in
Boston. Participants must be clean and
sober. Referrals to the transitional
housing programs may be made by case managers or by interested consumers
themselves to either the men's program (617-745-4313) or the women's program
(617-521-7147).
Long Island Shelter offers shelter residents and transitional housing
program residents the opportunity to participate in work experience programs
(primarily custodial/maintenance), hands-on job training (culinary arts, maintenance,
clothing warehousing and distribution, laundry, and kitchen service), and/or to
receive job search/placement assistance. Persons interested in employment
programs should speak with a case manager at the shelter; referrals for Project
Soar (the transitional housing program serving men and women) should be made by
a case manager to 617-534-2528 x 418.
Span (617-423-0750) in Boston
provides employment assistance to ex-offenders.
The Career Source (185 Alewife
Brook Parkway; 617-661-7867) provides a range of employment resources,
including free access to word processors, telephones, copying, and fax
machines, as well as an employment resource room for job seekers. Certain categorically eligible low income persons
may also be eligible for individualized career counseling support and free
employment training.
Health
Care Note:
all services are unless otherwise noted.
(See also "Veterans Services" on page 5.)
§
Free care
(including inpatient and outpatient health care, dental care, prescription
drugs) is available to any uninsured
person with income under 200% of the Federal Poverty guideline (approx.
$1,300/mo. for one person, plus $450/month for each additional household
member). Apply at the time care is received or in advance. Free hospital care is offered at The Cambridge Hospital (617-498-1000);
1493 Cambridge St.) and Mt. Auburn
Hospital (617-492-5560; 330 Mt. Auburn St.). Outpatient care is available in Cambridge at the Neighborhood Health Centers listed
below.
§
Network Health: The Cambridge
& Somerville Hospitals and their network of community health centers (see
below) offer a comprehensive managed care plan -- Network Health -- which persons can join by calling 617-503-2310 or visiting the Free Care Office next to the Cambridge
Hospital Emergency Room at 1493 Cambridge St.
§
Persons ineligible for Free Care (because their income is too high or because they have
other insurance) can obtain supplemental
insurance or "Partial Free Care". Enrollment assistance is available by calling
617-503-2310 or visiting the Free Care Office next to the Cambridge
Hospital Emergency Room at 1493 Cambridge St.
§
Mass Health (a.k.a.
Medicaid), providing the most comprehensive coverage of health care, dental
care, and mental health care, is available to low income families, persons with
disabilities, and elders. Assistance in
applying for Mass Health is available at the above-mentioned Free Care Office
or at any of the health centers listed below.
§
Health Care for the Homeless (617-591-6765)
medical staff provide primary care at the following walk-in clinics:
Ø
Salvation Army (402 Mass. Av.)
(Mon 1-3, Tu 1-4, Wed 10-2, Th 10-2, Fri 1-4)
Ø
CASPAR Emergency Service Center
(240 Albany St.) (Tu 1-4, Wed 3-5, Th 3-6)
Staff at the Salvation Army
clinics also serve homeless children
enrolled in the Salvation Army child care program.
Health Care for the Homeless Nursing Staff provide primary care and health education services
for residents of the YWCA and Hildebrand family
shelters and at Transition House,
a shelter for battered women and their children
§
Homeless and marginally housed women can contact Women
of Means (781-239-0290) for a referral to a doctor or nurse who can provide
free health care services at one of several sites in metro Boston.
§
Homeless and runaway youth (age 14-25) can receive health care at the Teen Health Center (617-498-1548; at
the Camb. Rindge & Latin High School, 459 Cambridge St.) and from Bridge Over Troubled Waters
(617-423-9575,
47 West St, Boston); Bridge has outreach workers in Central
& Harvard Sq., and a medical van (not ) in Harvard
Sq. Bridge can also provide or arrange for dental care, counseling, and
substance abuse and AIDS/HIV counseling.
§
Homeless elders can
obtain health care at the Senior Health
Center (617-498-2000) at the Senior Ctr (806 Mass. Av)
§
Homeless veterans may
access health care services through the VA system described on page 5 of this
directory.
§
Pregnant women & women with infants with incomes under the 200% of poverty guideline may be
eligible for additional health benefits under the Healthy Start program,
offered at any health center of the Cambridge Hospital.
Neighborhood Health Centers
of the Cambridge Hospital (call 617-503-2310 for
additional sites in Somerville):
• Primary Care Center (617-665-1068) at
The Cambridge Hospital
• Cambridgeport Health Center
(617-498-1105) 150 Erie St.
• East Cambridge Health Center
(617-665-3000) 163 Gore St.
• North Cambridge Health Center
(617-498-1119) 266 Rindge Av. (also a
site for the WIC program)
• Riverside Health Center
(617-498-1109) 205 Western Av.
• Windsor St. Health Center (617-665-3600) 119 Windsor St. (also a site for the WIC
program and dental clinic)
• Cambridge Family Health (617-876-5116)
237 Hampshire St. (by appointment only)
HIV/AIDS Services (see also AIDS Action (617-437-6200) &
Positive Directions (617-262-3456) in Boston)
Cambridge Cares About AIDS (617-661-3040;
678 Mass. Av.) provides a range of assistance to persons with HIV/AIDS,
including case management, medical advocacy, needle exchange, home delivery of
meals, housing search assistance, transitional housing, "harm
reduction" services, and a "buddy" program.
Eye Exams and Glasses (contact Health
Care for the Homeless for other suggestions) (see also Veterans Services p.5)
The Mass.
Eye and Ear Infirmary (243 Charles St. in Boston) offers free or low cost
eye exams and glasses. Call
617-573-3250 to apply for free care.
The New
England Eye Institute (617-262-2020; 1255 Boylston St. in Boston) offers
free exams for eyeglasses to homeless persons.
Homeless persons can bring their prescriptions (and a letter documenting
homelessness) to the Pine Street Inn Clinic to receive a free pair of glasses.
Addiction Services Note: all services are unless otherwise noted.
Substance abuse counseling,
dual diagnosis treatment and help accessing other
treatment resources is available by:
• contacting
Diedtre Peterson at the Multi-Service Center (617-349-6002; visits by
appointment) or,
• going to the Outpatient
Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Service Unit (weekdays 9AM-3PM) at Heritage
Hospital
(617-591-6050; 26 Central St in Somerville; shuttle service leaves from
the Line St. entrance of Cambridge Hospital)
Other outpatient
treatment services are offered by:
• Mt Auburn
Hospital Prevention and Recovery Center: 617-499-5051
• CASPAR
Outpatient Program: 617-661-1316
• MAPS Acupuncture Detoxification and
Outpatient Counseling: 617-628-6065
• North Charles
Institute for the Addictions Methadone
Maintenance program: 617-661-5700
• Concilio
Hispano: 617-661-9406 (not )
• IMPACT:
617-661-0405 (new patients should sign up to attend Tuesday orientations)
Access to detoxification can be arranged (24 hours/day unless otherwise noted)
• by the CASPAR
Street Outreach program (contact: Michelle O'Brien, 617-666-7227) (9-5
only)
• by going to the
CASPAR Emergency Services Center (617-661-0600) 240 Albany Street
• by calling the
CASPAR Intervention Center 617-628-6300 (9-5 only)
• by calling
Somerville Hospital Detox (for heroin users or persons with medical
conditions): 617-591-4227 or 4220
• by calling
AdCare: 1-800-ALCOHOL
• by going to the
Psychiatric Emergency Room of The Cambridge and Somerville Hospitals
(617-498-1560
or 617-665-1560; 1493 Cambridge St.; Dennis Dottin is available 9-5 only)
Services for youth
(25 and under): Bridge Over Troubled Water (617-423-9575)
Services for seniors
(60 and older): Geriatric Substance Abuse Program (617-349-6220)
Sober Drop-In Center:
CASPAR Phoenix House (617-666-9947) 255 Elm St. #201 in Davis Sq., Somerville
"Wet" Drop-In and
24 Hour Shelter: CASPAR Emergency Service
Center (617-661-0600) 240 Albany St.; Cambridge
Residential Treatment
Programs: (none of these programs
are )
• for women:
CASPAR Womanplace (contact: Carol Nickerson, 617-661-6020)
• for pregnant
& parenting women: CASPAR New Day (contact: Susan Shaw, 617-628-8188)
• for men in
recovery: CASPAR mens' residences (contact: David Wilson, 617-623-5277)
To find support
groups for achieving/maintaining sobriety, coping with addiction and its
effects on a family/relationship, & compulsive gambling:
• Alcoholics
Anonymous (617-426-9444) • Al-Anon (for families
and friends of users) (617-843-5300)
• AA/AlAnon for
Portuguese speakers (617-628-6065) •
Rational Recovery (781-891-7574)
• Narcotics
Anonymous (617-884-7709) • Cocaine
Anonymous (617-421-5533 or
800-477-6751)
• Gamblers
Anonymous (617-338-6020) gamblers,
families
Mental Health Care (See also Addiction Services, above, for
services for persons with a dual diagnosis)
Mental Health Services, all of which are
unless otherwise
noted, are available, as follows:
·
by appointment with Health Care
for the Homeless psych. staff at the Salvation Army clinic (Friday 11:30-1:30)
·
walk-in emergencies
at the Psych Emerg Rm. at Camb. Hosp (617-498-1560 or 617-665-1560; 1493
Cambridge St)
·
by appointment with the TriCity
Mental Health Specialist at the Multi-Service Center (vacant: 617-349-6331), or
the TriCity Mental Health Specialist at the DMH (Annie McAleer, 617-354-8543),
who can make referrals for ongoing counseling at the Psychiatric Outpatient
Unit at Heritage Hospital (see below for directions and phone)
·
at the Cambridge and Somerville Hospitals' Psychiatric Outpatient Unit at
Heritage Hospital
(26 Central St in
Somerville; shuttle vans leave from the Line St. entrance of the Cambridge
Hospital)
> for
an initial appointment
(617-498-1654)
> for a follow-up appointment with an ongoing provider (617-498-1150)
·
through the Community Treatment
Team at Somerville Mental Health (contact Dana Holly (617-623-5487) or Martha
Goldstein (617-623-3278)) -- serving homeless DMH priority clients (Rhonda Bourne, 617-491-0600 or Robin Rex,
617-354-8543) with history of hospitalizations
and difficulty using traditional outpatient services
•
by appointment at the Community Legal Services And Counseling Center
(617-661-1010; 1 West St.)
Dental Care (see also Bridge
Over Troubled Water, above, and Veterans Services, on page 5;
note also that dental care is a Mass Health
covered service)
The Dental
Clinic at the Windsor St. Health Center 119 Windsor St (617-665-3990) has
the capacity to serve a limited number of persons who qualify for free or
discounted care.
• The
Mass Dental Society's "Dentistry
for All" program offers reduced cost dentistry through participating
dentists. Applicants must document
financial need. Call (1-800-342-8747)
for an application and a referral.
Low cost teeth cleaning is available at the
dental clinic of the Forsythe School for
Dental Hygienists
(617-262-5200; 140 Fenway in Boston)
Cambridge
Health Care for the Homeless (see above) can refer homeless adults to the
McGinnis House in Jamaica Plain, Boston for free comprehensive dental care
St. Francis House
(617-542-4211; 39 Boylston St. in downtown Boston) screens candidates for
dental care every Thursday morning (arrive by 9AM or shortly thereafter), and
arranges referrals for free follow-up care
• "Smiles for Success" provides
referrals for free/low cost dental care by local women dentists for women whose
ability to succeed may be compromised by decayed, missing or
damaged teeth. Obtain more information
or apply for assistance at http://www.smilesforsuccess.org/
Services for Victims of Domestic Violence
• Transition House (617-661-7203) and Respond (617-623-5900) provides
counseling, referral for emergency shelter, and related services to battered
women and their children. Support and
services are available to women regardless of whether they are ready to leave
the battering relationship. Referral to shelter
is available.
• Emerge (617-547-9879) provides
counseling for batterers.
• The
Rape Crisis Center (617-492-7273)
provides assistance to victims of rape.
• Violence by caregivers against children,
elders, and persons with disabilities must be reported. The following hotlines will lead to
investigation and efforts to address abusive situations:
> Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-792-5200
> Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-922-2275 or
call Somerville Cambridge Elder Services (628-2601)
> Disabled Abuse Hotline: 1-800-426-9009
• The
Victims of Violence program of The
Cambridge Public Health Commission (617-498-1284) can provide clinical support to providers working with
persons who have been traumatized by violence.
Legal Assistance
Legal
assistance in appealing the denial of public benefits (TAFDC, SSI, Emergency
Assistance, etc.) and assistance preventing evictions is available from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services
(617-494-1800), Community Legal Services
& Counseling Center (617-661-1010), and Harvard Legal Aid (617-495-4408)
Legal help with
other matters, including criminal records, outstanding warrants, credit
problems, and child support problems is available from the Community Legal Assistance Project. Prospective clients or their case managers may call Bennett
Lerner at the Shelter Legal Services Foundation (617-552-0623) to arrange an
appointment at one of the following Cambridge locations. Prospective clients may also come at the
beginning of the sessions (times in parentheses) without an appointment:
Tuesday mornings (walk-ins come at 9AM) at the Multi-Service Center, Saturday mornings (walk-ins come at 9AM) at
First Parish Church (3 Church St. in Harvard Sq.), and every other Thursday
evening (walk-ins come at 6PM) at the Central Square Public Library (45 Pearl
St.).
The Cambridge Human Rights Commission
(617-349-4396) investigates allegations of discrimination,
including refusal by landlords to rent an apartment based on applicants' race,
color, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, sexual preference,
marital status, family status, military status, or source of income/payment. (i.e., landlords cannot tell an applicant:
"I don't take Section 8" or "I don't rent to families with
children.")
·
The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston (617-988-0611) can
investigate allegations of housing
discrimination. To initiate a
review and/or investigation of a case of possible discrimination, complete an
intake form (which is available by calling 617-988-0604 or on-line at
www.boston.fairhousing.com.)
Child Care and Other Services for Children and Their
Parents
Child Care for children of homeless families and parenting support
is provided by:
• Our Place (Salvation Army 617-547-3400)
-- weekdays 9AM-3PM for children age 3 months to 7 years
Cambridge Head Start
(617-577-7880) -- for children age 2.9 to 4 (waiting lists vary by program)
> full
day child care (8AM-5:30PM) is available to households earning under 175% of
the federal poverty level ($2,300/month for a family of four), for parents in
school/work/training in excess of 30 hours/week.
> half-day
Head Start programming (4 hours, starting 8-9:30AM) and child care
(7:45AM-1:45PM) is available only to below 100% of poverty; for child care,
caregivers must show 20 hours of out-of-home commitments.
• Information
about child care scholarships is
available from the Child Care Resource Center (617-547-9861)
In-Shelter support for parents of at-risk children or
children with special needs is provided by:
• Cambridge
Somerville Early Intervention (617-491-0600) -- for children age 0-3
• Home-Based
Programs of the Cambridge School Department
> Early
Childhood Program (617-349-6849) -- for children age 18 mos - 3 1/2 years
> Individualized
Learning Program (617-349-6850) -- for children age 3-4
> Bilingual
Program (617-349-6724) -- for children age 3-5 of families whose primary
language isn't English
Scholarships for participation in After-School Enrichment Programs (arts/music/dance,
sports/gymnastics, academics, etc.) and Summer
Camps operated by the Community
Schools Program (617-349-6235 or 617-349-6227) are available by contacting
the Bureau of Pupil Services
(617-349-6500 or 617-349-6424) of the Cambridge School Department
Parent Mentors to support mothers
transitioning from shelters to housing are available through Cambridge
Family & Children's Services (617-876-4210).
Children's clothing, books, and toys (see the Children's Clothing Exchange and Rosie's Place
under "Clothing").
Clothing (See also phone book for
used clothing stores: Salvation Army, Morgan Memorial, St. Vincent DePaul,
Garment District)
Free clothing is available to homeless people from the shelters at which they are staying (see
listings on page 1), and at the following drop-in
centers (see listings on page 2 for hours): Bread & Jams, Salvation
Army, Shelter Inc., and On the Rise. The following are additional clothing resources:
• Cambridgeport
Baptist Church (617-576-6779; 459 Putnam St. at Magazine St.) during Saturday
food pantry hours (1st and 3rd Saturdays 10 AM - 12 Noon) nominal charge of 10
cents per item may be waived
Bread &
Jams (617-497-9200) at the Sunday meal (see p.4. for seasonal locations and
times)
·
GEAR: "In
Pursuit of Success" (a CASPAR program) (providers only): call
Charleen Tierney at 617-591-1900 for access to work quality clothing and hard-to-find
items and sizes
• Children's
Clothing Exchange (617-576-0039; basement of Grace Methodist Church at 56
Magazine St.) Tues, Weds, & Sat 9:30-3:30 -- free clothing for children age
0-12 in exchange for donation of other useable children's clothing or volunteer
help mending, sorting, or cleaning donated clothing
• American
Friends Service Committee (providers
only; no client walk-ins) Providers can call 617-876-5312 during program
hours (Tues & Thurs 9:30-4:30) to arrange for pick-up of needed clothing,
including work clothing
St. Francis
House (617-542-4211; 39 Boylston St in downtown Boston) has work-quality
clothing available;
case
management referral required
• Rosie's
Place (Boston): women's & children's clothing is available by appointment only by calling
617-442-9322
• Positive
Impressions (Boston): new professional clothing for women entering the
workforce by appointment only by
calling 617-266-2356. A fax referral
with info about clothing size, etc. is required 3 days prior to client
appointment
Other Services
• Obtaining a Massachusetts ID: Homeless persons can obtain a Mass. ID from
the Registry of Motor Vehicles (630 Washington St. in Downtown Boston or at the
Cambridgeside Galleria Mall) by bringing a letter on shelter (or other program)
stationery signed by a case manager stating the homeless person's name and
Social Security number, listing any other identification that s/he has,
affirming that s/he is homeless and, if applicable, residing in the shelter or
transitional program, and that the case manager knows this person well and can
attest to the facts of the letter.
Sometimes, the Registry is willing to waive the usual $15 fee on account
of the person's homelessness.
• Obtaining a Discount T Pass for Persons
with Disabilities: Obtain application from the MBTA (617-222-5438). Have a medical provider (e.g., Health Care
for the Homeless, see "Health Care" page 9) complete the form and
return it to the MBTA. Clients of DMH
and registered users of The Ride do not require further verification of
disability. Applications take 6-8 weeks
to process. When you receive
notification of approval, bring the notification, two forms of ID, and $3.00 to
the Access Office at Back Bay Station on the Orange Line.
• Obtaining Assistance with
Transportation (see also Missing
Link Fund on p.6)
Bread
& Jams operates a daily van service
from the evening meal site (see page 4) to Boston shelters.
> Some shelters and
transitional housing programs may have the resources to offer emergency help
with transportation related to housing or job search or employment.
• Self-advocacy training, including peer
training/support for public speaking, writing, and meeting facilitation, is
offered by Speaking Up, a program of Solutions at Work (617-492-0300). Speaking Up also promotes homeless consumer
involvement in agency decision making and municipal planning of services for
homeless persons.
• Ex-Offenders: Span, Inc. (617-423-0750
at 110 Arlington St, Boston) offers a range of support: help with housing and
employment, reintegration counseling, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS services,
peer support, and a drop-in center.
• Voice mail accounts are available
through Project Connect to homeless persons seeking housing or employment, or
otherwise working to end their homelessness. Call Shelter, Inc. (617-547-1885),
Multi-Service Center (617-349-6340), Bread and Jams (617-354-8982), or
Solutions at Work (617-492-0300)
• Free Income Tax Assistance, furnished
by Harvard and Boston College business school students, is seasonally available
at the Cambridge Public Library
(617-349-4040) and East End House (617-876-4444)