Public Benefits and Community Assistance

Here is a list of all the licensed, private individual childcare options in Cambridge (and some in Somerville).

We offer employment training and education programs for TAFDC clients including Young Parents Program, DTA Works Internship, Office of Refugee and Immigrants Program, and more!

Our guide is a great way to learn about and connect to free and low-cost foods in Cambridge.

We work with 175+ diverse agencies in Cambridge and beyond. These agencies rely on community volunteers to help deliver services, support operations, or lead on their boards of directors.

We provide employment training and job search services to veterans and their families.

You can learn how to apply for temporary income through Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance programs by clicking the links on this page.

Housed In Cambridge: Information to Open Doors is a citywide campaign designed to educate and inform residents on housing opportunities and housing-related resources and services.

We offer nutritious food to those in need, no questions asked! Individuals and families can receive help once per week.

We are an IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partner that provides free tax preparation for individuals and families with low to moderate income.

We can help you with many housing-related services, including signing up for the Cambridge Affordable Housing list, preventing eviction, resolving issues with property managers, and more.

We help individuals fill out their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so they can get the most financial aid for which they are eligible.

We help people apply for and resolve problems with Social Security, SSI, SSDI, TAFDC, and EAEDC.

De Novo provides individual and group counseling for adults.

The Office of Student Services (OSS) includes a variety of services, supports and programs dedicated to ensuring equitable access and success for students with disabilities.

We provide lunch at noon every day and a continental breakfast six days each week through our drop-in Day Shelter.

Since 1999, we've been offering community meals that are open to all (twice per month from September to June).

We offer a variety of services, supports and programs dedicated to ensuring equitable access and success for students who have a documented risk of regression during the summer months.

We operate a community supper each Thursday evening at Christ Church Cambridge.

Every Saturday, we open our place to the people in need and provide them with hot meals.

We distribute free, prepared to-go meals twice each month on the second and last Tuesday evenings.

We offer a food services program that provides emergency food to over 16,000 individuals and families each year.

Our food pantry provides individuals and families in need with fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, meats, and dairy products.

We are distributing free bags of fresh vegetables, bread, and other food items every Saturday morning.

Our food and supply pantry is open to all on a first come, first served basis until supplies run out.

The Just-A-Start Financial Opportunity Program offers free financial coaching from an accredited financial counselor to help people define and reach their financial goals.

We work to stabilize housing for eligible Cambridge tenants through mediation and dispute resolution services.

The guide is organized around six key themes: affordable housing, emergency housing, housing rights, legal and mediation services, safe & healthy homes, and financial assistance.