Assistance
This page has information about agencies that can assist you with different issues.
Human Rights and Discrimination
CHRC
The Cambridge Human Rights Commission is a city agency. It will investigate your complaint of racial, gender, disabilities and other forms of illegal discrimination—especially in housing. If CHRC finds your complaint is justified, you can choose between mediation and legal action by the state Attorney General’s office.
http://www.cambridgema.gov/HRC/
Cambridge Human Rights Commission
51 Inman Street
Cambridge 02139
617-349-4396
MCAD
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is a state agency. It investigates complaints of racial, gender, disabilities and other discrimination—including housing and especially in employment. MCAD can issue subpoenas and impose fines or penalties.
Mass. Commission Against Discrimination (Boston office)
One Ashburton Place
Sixth Floor, Room 601
Boston 02108
617-994-6000
CCPD
Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities is a city agency.
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/disabilities.cfm
Michael Muehe, Executive Director
Kate Thurman, Disability Project Coordinator
51 Inman Street, second floor
Cambridge 02139
mmuehe@cambridgema.gov
617-349-4692
AAB
The Architectural Access Board is a State agency concerned with insuring that persons with disabilities don’t face barriers to full access to public facilities, including streets and sidewalks.
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board
One Ashburton Place, Room 1310
Boston, 02108
617-727-0660
Preventing Homelesness
MSC
The Multi-Service Center is a city agency. It offers a range of services for homeless people and services to prevent homelessness. They have Spanish speakers on staff and work with a Haitian Kreyol advocacy group.
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/dhsp2/multiservice.cfm
Multi-Service Center for the Homeless
19 Brookline Street (Central Square)
Cambridge 02139
617-349=6340
HomeStart
HomeStart is an independent nonprofit with offices in Boston and Cambridge. Its focus is getting homeless persons off the street and into permanent housing,. They will also work with you to keep you from becoming homeless.
HomeStart Inc.
678 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 502 (Central Square)
Cambridge 02139
617-234-5340
Legal Aid
CASLS
Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services is the division of Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) serving residents of these and neighboring cities north of Boston.
http://www.gbls.org/get-legal-help
CASLS
60 Gore Street Suite 203
Cambridge 02141
617-603-2700
Harvard Legal Aid
Harvard Legal Aid provides free legal help for income-qualified tenants and others, especially during the school year. They have only a skeleton crew in the summer.
http://www.harvardlegalaid.org/seeking-legal-help
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
23 Everett Street
Cambridge 02138
617-495-4408
TAP
Harvard Tenant Advocacy Project Harvard Law students with TAP can assist and represent public housing and voucher tenants who file grievances with housing authority panels. They can’t represent you in court.
http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical/tap/tenants/index.html
Tenant Advocacy Project
Harvard Law School
Austin Hall, Room 009
Cambridge 02138
617-495-4394
CLSACC
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center Besides providing staff attorneys, they can put you in touch with private attorneys providing pro bono (free) legal assistance to lower-income residents. They are especially helpful when there is more than one issue involved, for example if you are being threatened with eviction and are also a person with a disability, in need of services.
http://www.clsacc.org/legal-overview.html
CLSACC
One West Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: 617-661-1010
Mediation For Results, Just-A-Start
http://www.mediationforresults.org/
Mediation For Results
Just-A-Start Corporation
1035 Cambridge Street, Suite 12
Cambridge 02141
Peter Shapiro 617-494-0444 x317
Food Pantries and Food Stamps
CEOC
Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee runs a food pantry which accepts emergency referrals Monday through Friday. They can also help you file for food stamps benefits.
http://www.ceoccambridge.org/food_pantry_services0.aspx
11 Inman Street, Cambridge 02139
617-868-2900
Cambridge Dept. of Human Services listing of food pantries
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/dhsp2/meals1.cfm
Domestic Violence
The Women’s Center
The Women’s Center is an independent nonprofit agency run by and for women. It hosts a range of activities including support groups for battered women, trauma survivors, and for the lesbian community.
http://www.cambridgewomenscenter.org/
46 Pleasant Street
Cambridge 02139
617-354-8807
Children With Voices
Children With Voices is a program run out of The Guidance Center on Sacramento Street in Cambridge, but families from other cities and towns are eligible for its services. Supports children who witness domestic violence.
http://www.gcinc.org/pages.asp?p=228&c=18
5 Sacramento Street
Cambridge 02138
Gail Council, 617-284-5130
Medical Emergencies
We are still collecting information about agencies that assist with medical emergencies.
Depression
Reaching Out About Depression (ROAD) is a community-based program created by and for neighborhood women who suffer with depression and related issues. All services are offered free. By creating a network of support in the community, ROAD helps women experiencing stress or depression understand that they are not alone, while offering strategies and resources to promote their self-empowerment and improved quality of life. ROAD offers leadership opportunities for women who join the network so that they can become peer supports for their fellow ROAD members and change agents in their communities.
http://www.challiance.org/IntheCommunity/ReachingOutAboutDepressionROAD.aspx