ARLINGTON’S SAFETY NET
ARLINGTON FOOD PANTRY
Open 9:30 am to 11:30 am second Tuesday and last Saturday of each month. Held at Church of our Savior, 21 Marathon Street, Arlington. Must be a resident of Arlington, show proof of residency. No income requirements. A family may come to the Food Pantry once a month. Amount of food received depends on family size.
Information:
Leon Cantor, Director, Youth Services
Lyz Carey, Administrative Assistant
FOOD STAMPS
www.getting foodstamps.org – internet access information for getting food stamps. Download an application, locate your local food stamp office, get all the information you need to get for food stamps.
ARLINGTON ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Financial assistance -$200 per year-primarily used to subsidize utilities, may be used for special circumstances. Proof of income and proof of residency required. Proof of state fuel assistance application necessary before assistance for heating bills will be given. Low and moderate income guidelines applied.
Information:
Leon Cantor, Director, Youth Services
Lyz Carey, Administrative Assistant
Local state fuel assistance office:
Rose, 781-643-2358, Town Hall Annex, 3rd floor. (Local office open November 1 through April 30 each year)
WIDOWS’ TRUST FUNDS
Financial assistance for widows only. Primarily used for health needs, basic life necessities, one-time needs or short term needs. Examples include wheelchairs, hearing aids, dentures, Lifeline Program, etc. Income eligibility and residency requirement.
Information:
Christine Connolly, Director of Health & Human Services
WIC –WOMEN, INFANT, & CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
A nutrition program available to pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, and their children from ages 0 through 5. Family receives infant formula and food coupons. WIC meets in Arlington every Tuesday from 9 am to 5 pm at Alewife Brook Community Pediatrics. Income eligibility required.
Information:
Alewife Brook Community Pediatrics
29 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, Ma. 02474
781-646-2032
HEALTH ACCESS PROJECT
Information on access to the various affordable health care programs provided by the state, including MassHealth, Family Assistance, The Insurance Partnership, and the Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP). This project is sponsored by The Child Care Resource Center.
Information:
Stacey Taylor
617-547-1063 x271
LOW-INTEREST LOAN PROGRAM
A low-interest loan program (1 point above prime), no collateral required, low income levels acceptable. Small amounts of money may be borrowed. Program offered through Cambridge Savings Bank. A good credit rating is required. Proof of income necessary and applications must have a screening interview with Christine Connolly, Director of Health & Human Services, or her designee.
Information and application:
Christine Connolly, Director of Health & Human Services
WEATHERIZATION/HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
Program for homeowners to weatherize and repair their homes, including new heating systems, new storm windows, insulation, roofing and gutters, plumbing and electrical systems, porches and walks. Program is offered through the Town of Arlington and is for low and moderate-income families. This is a low-interest loan program. The interest rate is related to income level.
Information:
Weatherization Office
Jack Jones or Jack Collins
RECREATION SCHOLARSHIPS
All recreation programs in Arlington, including the Arlington Recreation Department, the Arlington Boys’ & Girls’ Club, and Fidelity House receive Community Development Block Grant money to subsidize families needing help with recreational program fees.
School based sports programs will negotiate athletic fees on a case-by-case basis upon request from the parent. Income verification is required.
Information:
COUNSELING
Arlington Youth Consultation Center provides individual, group, and family counseling on a negotiated fee bases and also accepts Medicaid reimbursement. A support group for women leaving violent home situations is available. A support group for grandparents with custody or primary caretaking responsibilities of grandchildren is available.
Information:
Leon Cantor, Director
Intake Worker of the Day, AYCC, 781-316-3255
CHILD CARE
Communities United (Head Start) provides various child care resources in Arlington. These include Creative Start at the Calvary Methodist Church and at the Dallin School. Income eligibility and residence eligibility required. A complete listing of day care programs in Arlington is maintained at the Robbins Library, Children’s Department.
Information:
Creative Start Director/Coordinator 781-648-0515
Arlington Preschool Council (any director of an Arlington preschool.)
Arlington Public Schools, Preschool Team, Kathleen Fraser, 781-316-3718
Robbins Library, Children’s Department, 781-316-3235
Childcare Resource Center provides child care information and referral. Listings of licensed day care facilities and licensed family daycare providers are available. Some referral services are free, others are provided on a sliding fee scale or at low cost.
Information:
Child Care Resource Center, 130 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, Ma. 02139
617-547-1063 x71
Parent INFOLine, 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.
Visiting Mom’s Support Groups
“This Isn’t What I Expected” – Postpartum Adjustment Support Group
Tuesdays 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Calvary United Methodist Church, 300 Mass. Ave., Arlington
To register please call Karen Brenner or Liz Tyler at
781-647-5327 x2208
Mother’ Support Group (Mothers and Babies under 1 year)
Friday’s 9:30am – 11:00 am
Calvary Methodist Church, 300 Mass Ave., Arlington
For information call Andrea Insoft 781-647-5327 x1967
HOUSING
The Arlington Housing Authority provides subsidized housing for elderly, low-income families, and disabled persons. Both housing project models and subsidized apartment models are available. The Housing Authority does not provide emergency shelter. Application is made at the Arlington Housing Authority office at 2 Winslow Street, Arlington. A waiting list usually exists for subsidized housing.
Information:
Franklin Hurd, Director
781-646-3400 x16
Arlington Affordable Housing Program
The Town of Arlington in conjunction with the Housing Corporation of Arlington provides affordable housing for residents. Subsidized rentals are available, as well as subsidized purchase of homes.
Information:
Laura Wiener, Director of Housing,Planning Department
David Levy, Executive Director, Arlington Housing Corporation
Somerville Young Adult Residential and Case Management Program provides housing and case management services to homeless young adults in recover-ages 18 to 24. They must show a demonstrated commitment to recovery and have developed a foundation of stability in sobriety.
Information:
617-623-6111
Caritas Communities, Inc.
Caritas Communities, Inc. manages 12 rooming houses in the Greater Boston area, two of which are in Arlington. One is on Russell Terrace and one is on Appleton Street. The home office for Caritas is in Braintree. Residents are expected to have references for good rental history and good character.
Information:
Caritas Communities
100 Grandview Road, Suite 303
Braintree, Ma. 02184, 617-843-1242
Russell Street, Arlington, Ma.
781-646-6176
Other housing resources are listed below:
Bristol Lodge Individual Shelter for Men and Women
25 Lexington Street, Waltham, Ma. 781-903-0108
Bristol Lodge Family Shelter, 781-647-9957
Bristol Lodge Single Women Shelter
205 Bacon Street, Waltham, Ma. 781-894-1225
TRANSPORTATION
The Arlington Council on Aging runs a transportation program for elders and disabled residents. Two transportation programs are available, Dial-a-Ride Taxi program, and a handicapped-accessible van program. Additionally the COA manages several grant programs providing transportation subsidies for medical appointments.
Eligibility requirements include age, disability, residency, and income.
Information:
ACCESSIBILITY
For residents who are physically challenged and need help with accessibility a Home Modification Program has been established. The loan program will help families with improved access to their homes, thus enabling them to stay independently living in the community. The loan amounts range from $1,000 to $25,000. Two types of loans are offered (depending on the income of eligible households). One type is a deferred-payment loan and the other is an amortizing loan.
Information:
South Middlesex Opportunity Council (Framingham)
508-620-2682
Local information and help for ADA concerns (Americans with Disabilities Act) is available through Arlington’s ADA office:
Information:
E911-Emergency Telephone Service
E911 is an emergency telephone listing service for frail persons and physically challenged persons. Citizens must be registered with the Community Safety Department for this service. Once registered, if an emergency (911) call is placed from that citizen’s telephone, the computer system will automatically flash on the screen the name and address and the particular disability. When the police and fire department arrive, they know whether someone in the building is blind, deaf, in a wheelchair, etc. They can respond accordingly and appropriately. Registration forms for E911 are available in several locations in Arlington.
Information:
Arlington Police Department, 212 Mystic Street, Arlington, Ma.
781-643-1212
Arlington Council on Aging, 27 Maple Street, Arlington, Ma. 02476
781-316-3400
Arlington Disability Commission, 27 Maple Street, Arlington, Ma. 02476
781-316-3430
Lifeline Program
Lifeline is a beeper device (usually worn around the neck) available to elders, shut-in’s, and handicapped people needing an emergency safety system at home. When the lifeline device is pushed, a call to E911 is triggered, and the emergency response team is sent to that house. The Council on Aging manages a grant program to subsidize the cost of Lifeline. Lifeline is managed by Lahey Clinic.
Information:
Lifeline, Lahey Clinic at Burlington, 1-800-978-7798
Council on Aging, 781-316-3400
VETERANS’ SERVICES
Wartime veterans are entitled to emergency services and financial aid, including living expenses and medical expenses. Information on eligibility and processing of applications is done through the town Veterans’ Services office. Information and assistance with claims to the federal Veterans’ Administration Program are also offered.
Information:
MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS
PTO Thrift Shop
The PTO Thrift Shop is a volunteer-run shop both accepting and then re-selling used clothing, children’s toys, and various household items. The proceeds of the thrift shop are donated to the Arlington public schools through the PTO programs in each school.
The items donated are carefully screened for cleanliness, good repair, and safety.
PTO Thrift Shop
175 Mass. Ave., Arlington, Ma. 02474 (basement of Fox Library)
P: 781-483-3433
Please call Leon Cantor or Christine Connolly with any miscellaneous needs. There is a superb network in Arlington to help with various and sundry needs, from hand-me-down refrigerators to English prams. We can only expand the safety net.
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