Excellent Overall Resource Finder: look4help.org
Find the resources you need in Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabban Regions
-- type what you need and your ZIP code to get a list of helpful organizations and resources
Look4Help is a project of Community Action Pioneer Valley.
Learn more about Community Action at https://www.communityaction.us/ or call 413-774-2318.
CHILD CARE VOUCHERS
in Northampton, Hadley, and Hampshire County
CHILDCARE VOUCHERS IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
State-sponsored vouchers help pay for child care. Our Hampshire County regional connection to state vouchers is the New England Farm Workers Council. Their offices are mostly in Greenfield, but they come to Florence on Wednesdays to the WIC office. The process of getting a voucher can be complicated, so PLEASE call the number below at the New England Farm Workers Council to be connected to someone who can help walk you through it.
Instant eligibility:
If you are working or in training and have TAFDC, DTA, or SNAP benefits, or if anyone in the household receives SSI benefits, you are instantly eligible. If you have a foster child through DCF, you are eligible for that foster child, regardless of your household income.
Statewide waitlist:
All those not immediately eligible need to have an income check and then if eligible, are placed on a statewide waitlist. Apply as soon as you can, and keep your contact information ALWAYS up to date; if you are assigned a voucher, a state agency (it can be one of many) will send you ONE notice. If you don't respond to that notice within 45 days, you lose your place on the statewide waitlist and have to start over.
New England Farm Workers Council: Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)/Voucher Services
Office: 21 Mohawk Trail, Unit 4, Greenfield
Wednesdays: WIC office at the Silk Mill Building, 15 Straw Avenue, Suite 112, Florence, MA 01062
- 413-475-3656
- Based in Greenfield
- In Florence on Wednesdays at the WIC office: Silk Mill Building, 15 Straw Avenue, Suite 112, Florence, MA 01062
- Go to partnersforcommunity.org, then click on About PfC/Affiliates, then click on NEFWC Child Care
- Information on childcare vouchers/choosing child care
- Child care vouchers are available to families who are working or in training and are income-eligible or on TAFDC
MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
Maintains the statewide childcare voucher waitlist. To see where you are on the list:
Go to www.mass.gov, go to LEARNING/Early Education and Care; then in the search bar, type voucher waitlist
FOOD SUPPORT
Up to date listings found at: https://forbeslibrary.org/community/resources/northampton-area-food-assistance/
Food stamps and subsidies
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
An overview and addresses for WIC -- guidelines are less strict than for SNAP. Specifically geared to pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women and children up to age 5, WIC provides a debit card to buy nutritious foods like milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice, peanut butter, and beans at local authorized grocery stores. In addition, it offers nutrition assessment and counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals to services that help keep families healthy and safe.
SNAP Benefits
An overview of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.
SNAP Retail Locator
Find stores that accept Food Stamps near you.
Food pantries and survival centers
The Northampton Survival Center
265 Prospect Street, Northampton
(413) 586-6564
The Northampton Survival Center is an emergency food pantry which provides low-income individuals and families in 16 communities in Hampshire County with free food, toiletries, children’s books, and referrals for emergency assistance.
Amherst Survival Center
1200 North Pleasant Street, North Amherst
413-549-3968
The Amherst Survival Center’s core services include providing free meals, fresh food, an emergency food pantry, free clothing and housewares, a health clinic, and volunteer opportunities. Most services are available to all, however, only people who live in Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, and Whately are permitted to use the emergency food pantry.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts bring healthy food both to Food Bank member agencies like meal sites, shelters, and food pantries, and to low-income elders through their Brown Bag program.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
An overview and addresses for WIC -- guidelines are less strict than for SNAP. Specifically geared to pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women and children up to age 5, WIC provides a debit card to buy nutritious foods like milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice, peanut butter, and beans at local authorized grocery stores. In addition, it offers nutrition assessment and counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals to services that help keep families healthy and safe.
SNAP Benefits
An overview of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.
SNAP Retail Locator
Find stores that accept Food Stamps near you.
Food pantries and survival centers
The Northampton Survival Center
265 Prospect Street, Northampton
(413) 586-6564
The Northampton Survival Center is an emergency food pantry which provides low-income individuals and families in 16 communities in Hampshire County with free food, toiletries, children’s books, and referrals for emergency assistance.
Amherst Survival Center
1200 North Pleasant Street, North Amherst
413-549-3968
The Amherst Survival Center’s core services include providing free meals, fresh food, an emergency food pantry, free clothing and housewares, a health clinic, and volunteer opportunities. Most services are available to all, however, only people who live in Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, and Whately are permitted to use the emergency food pantry.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts bring healthy food both to Food Bank member agencies like meal sites, shelters, and food pantries, and to low-income elders through their Brown Bag program.
HOUSING AND UTILITIES ASSISTANCE
in Northampton area
Up to date listings found at: https://forbeslibrary.org/community/resources/northampton-area-housing-assistance/
Shelters
Hampshire County Interfaith Shelter
43 Center Street, Northampton. Follow signs to the entrance in back.
413-586-6750
An emergency overflow shelter for homeless adults in Hampshire County, offering warm beds and free meals during the six coldest months of the year. Doors open at 6:00 PM, November through April. Overnight shelter only.
The Grove Street Inn
91 Grove Street, Northampton
413-586-6001
A year-round shelter. The Inn shelters up to twenty men and women per night, for a maximum stay of three months.
Soldier On (for veterans)
421 North Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053
413-582-3059
Soldier On’s shelter in Leeds provides a starting place for all veterans who enter the Soldier On program. While at the Leeds facilities, veterans have immediate access to a diverse array of assistance, including physical heath services, mental health services, two chaplains and a substance abuse recovery program.
The Leeds facility also includes separate and secure housing for women veterans and separate housing for frail and elderly veterans
Safe Passage
76 Carlon Dr, Northampton
413-586-1125
Emergency Shelter for adults and children fleeing abuse or domestic violence.
Craig’s Doors
434 N Pleasant ST, Amherst
413-256-0704
Seasonal shelter and resource center.
Housing Assistance
Northampton Housing Authority
The Northampton Housing Authority (NHA) is a quasi-public agency maintaining public housing at the McDonald House, Forsander and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights. The NHA also administers a Housing Choice Voucher program (Section Eight) and works with the Veterans Administration to administer VASH vouchers.
Department of Housing and Community Development
The Division of Housing Stabilization, a unit of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, is charged with the mission of preventing homelessness, sheltering those for whom homelessness is unavoidable, and rapidly re-housing the homeless in stable, permanent housing. THE DHCD has staff at the following local Department of Transitional Services offices that can help you find shelter:
413-585-1300
Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to Noon
43 Center Street, Northampton. Follow signs to the entrance in back. Offers food, medical care, referrals, and other resources.
Northampton Veterans’ Services Department (for veterans)
413-587-1299
The primary mission of the Veterans’ Services Department is to assist veterans with receiving the benefits due to them, and to provide food and housing, medical, and employment assistance as necessary.
Utilities Assistance
Community Action Home Energy Assistance
413-774-2310 or 800-370-0940
393 Main Street, Greenfield, MA
Fuel Assistance participants are also eligible to receive discounts on their home phone and electric bills and may choose to enroll in their Heating System Repair Program, Weatherization Program, or Electric Efficiency Program.
Internet Essentials
Inexpensive broadband and computers available to eligible households with at least one child receiving free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch program.
Lifeline
Lifeline is a federal program that helps eligible individuals pay for wireless or home telephone service. Most telephone companies lower the phone bill each month. Some companies provide free wireless minutes each month.
Hampshire County Interfaith Shelter
43 Center Street, Northampton. Follow signs to the entrance in back.
413-586-6750
An emergency overflow shelter for homeless adults in Hampshire County, offering warm beds and free meals during the six coldest months of the year. Doors open at 6:00 PM, November through April. Overnight shelter only.
The Grove Street Inn
91 Grove Street, Northampton
413-586-6001
A year-round shelter. The Inn shelters up to twenty men and women per night, for a maximum stay of three months.
Soldier On (for veterans)
421 North Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053
413-582-3059
Soldier On’s shelter in Leeds provides a starting place for all veterans who enter the Soldier On program. While at the Leeds facilities, veterans have immediate access to a diverse array of assistance, including physical heath services, mental health services, two chaplains and a substance abuse recovery program.
The Leeds facility also includes separate and secure housing for women veterans and separate housing for frail and elderly veterans
Safe Passage
76 Carlon Dr, Northampton
413-586-1125
Emergency Shelter for adults and children fleeing abuse or domestic violence.
Craig’s Doors
434 N Pleasant ST, Amherst
413-256-0704
Seasonal shelter and resource center.
Housing Assistance
Northampton Housing Authority
The Northampton Housing Authority (NHA) is a quasi-public agency maintaining public housing at the McDonald House, Forsander and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights. The NHA also administers a Housing Choice Voucher program (Section Eight) and works with the Veterans Administration to administer VASH vouchers.
Department of Housing and Community Development
The Division of Housing Stabilization, a unit of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, is charged with the mission of preventing homelessness, sheltering those for whom homelessness is unavoidable, and rapidly re-housing the homeless in stable, permanent housing. THE DHCD has staff at the following local Department of Transitional Services offices that can help you find shelter:
- 72-100 Front Street, Holyoke413-552-5400
- 1 Arch Place, Greenfield413-772-3400
413-585-1300
Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to Noon
43 Center Street, Northampton. Follow signs to the entrance in back. Offers food, medical care, referrals, and other resources.
Northampton Veterans’ Services Department (for veterans)
413-587-1299
The primary mission of the Veterans’ Services Department is to assist veterans with receiving the benefits due to them, and to provide food and housing, medical, and employment assistance as necessary.
Utilities Assistance
Community Action Home Energy Assistance
413-774-2310 or 800-370-0940
393 Main Street, Greenfield, MA
Fuel Assistance participants are also eligible to receive discounts on their home phone and electric bills and may choose to enroll in their Heating System Repair Program, Weatherization Program, or Electric Efficiency Program.
Internet Essentials
Inexpensive broadband and computers available to eligible households with at least one child receiving free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch program.
Lifeline
Lifeline is a federal program that helps eligible individuals pay for wireless or home telephone service. Most telephone companies lower the phone bill each month. Some companies provide free wireless minutes each month.