TABLE of CONTENTS:

Abuse and Neglect: see below and Main Menu click here

Child Care: see below

Education: Main Menu click here

Employment: Main Menu click here

Families: Main Menu click here

Financial Education: Main Menu click here

Food and Nutrition: see below

Heating Fuel Assistance: see below

Health Care Services and Enrollment: Main Menu click here

Housing: click here

Immigration Matters: see below

Legal Aide: see below

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC): see below

Mental Health: Main Menu click here

Substance Use: Main Menu click here

Suicide Prevention: Main Menu click here

Transportation: see below

Wellness and Self-Care: Main Menu click here

ABUSE and NEGLECT:

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

• Berkshire County – Elizabeth Freeman Center 24 Hour Hotline: Call (866) 401-2425
• Massachusetts: Call SafeLink at (877) 785-2020
• National: Call Domestic Violence 24/7 Crisis Hotline at (800) 799-7233
• National: Call Sexual Assault 24/7 Crisis Hotline at (800) 656-4673

Child Abuse or Endangerment

• Child-At-Risk Hotline (800) 792-5200
• Berkshire Office – Department of Children and Families:
  • Mon – Fri 8:45 am – 5:00 pm: Call (413) 236-1800
  • After Hours/Weekends: Call Child-At-Risk Hotline (800) 792-5200

Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC)

• DPPC protects adults with disabilities from the abusive acts or omissions of their caregivers through investigation oversight, public awareness, and prevention.  DPPC operates a 24-hour Hotline to report incidents of suspected abuse involving adults with disabilities by dialing 1-800-426-9009 or 1-888-822-0350 TTY.  DPPC Website https://www.mass.gov/orgs/disabled-persons-protection-commission

Elder Abuse and Neglect

• Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-922-2275
• Berkshire County – Elder Protective Services (for Abuse or Neglect): Call 855-874-322
• Nursing Home Family Resource Line: Call  (617) 660-5399

 

CHILD CARE

Day Care, Preschool and/or Afterschool

Boys and Girls Club

YMCA

Reunification Program

YMCA

Education

Main Menu click here

Employment

Main Menu click here

Families

Main Menu click here

Financial Education

Main Menu click here

 

FOOD and NUTRITION

• SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious foods. To get SNAP, you must be low-income and be a U.S. citizen or legal noncitizen (restrictions apply). Eligibility for SNAP benefits depends on financial and nonfinancial criteria. To find out more about the program, click on: Link to  SNAP Benefits

• Food Distribution Sites and Pantries click here

• Meal Sites click here

• Home Delivered Meals click here

• Other Items

 

HEATING FUEL ASSISTANCE: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)

Heating Fuel Assistance: click here

Fuel Assistance, also known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is a federally funded program to help low-income households with their heating bills. The program begins November 1st and ends April 30th each year. All heating types may be eligible for assistance: oil, propane, kerosene, coal, cord wood, wood pellets, natural gas, electric and even some households that have heat included in their rent.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES and ENROLLMENT

Main Menu click here

HOUSING

Main Menu click here

Agencies and Providers

• Berkshire Housing and Development Corporation click here

• Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority click here

• Construct, Inc. (South County) click here

• Senior Housing (BHDC) click here

 

Housing Programs

• First Time Home Buyer click here

• Housing Housing Consumer and Education Center (HCEC) – Berkshire County click here

• Low Income Housing click here

• RAFT (included within Housing and Consumer Education Center information) click here

• Section 8 click here

• Senior Housing click here

• Subsidized Housing click here

• Tenancy Preservation: Mediation of Landlord – Tenant Disputes click here

 

IMMIGRATION MATTERS

Berkshire Immigrant Center (BIC)

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to assist individuals and families in making the economic, psychological and cultural adjustment to a new land, not only by meeting basic needs, but also by helping them to become active participants in our community. The Center also aims to build bridges of understanding and cooperation across cultures, to fight racism and discrimination in all forms, and to advocate for the rights of immigrants from all backgrounds.  The Center offers comprehensive services for individuals from more than 80 countries to promote civic engagement, facilitate cultural integration, and assist in navigating the complex U.S. immigration system.  To learn more about the Berkshire Immigrant Center and the important services they provide click here

Additional Services and Important Links (courtesy of the Berkshire Immigrant Center):

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Immigration Law Help
• Mass 211
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
• Massachusetts Justice Project
• MERECEMOS IGUALDAD – POPULAR EDUCATION TOOLS ON DAPA, DACA & AMINISTRATIVE RELIEF
• National Immigration Forum
• National Immigration Law Center
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the World
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Welcoming Massachusetts

LEGAL AID

Community Legal Aid

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

MENTAL HEALTH

Main Menu click here

 

SUBSTANCE USE

Main Menu click here

 

SUICIDE PREVENTION

For Suicide Prevention Section of Main Menu click here

For National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website click here

 

TRANSPORTATION

• Cabulance

• Berkshire Regional Transportation Association

 

Wellness and Self-Care

Main Menu click here

To return to the Top of the Page click here.

To return to the Main Menu click here.