Agencies

Supporting Families, Strengthening Communities – Help When It Matters Most!

There are many situations that families find themselves in where they can benefit from outside help. Agencies in this category provide many services from heating and housing, various types of counseling, and legal services for low income families or individuals.

A Friend in Need

A Friend in Need provides one-time financial help per year to families and individuals in the Acton/Boxborough/Maynard area whose circumstances have left them with an immediate need for assistance with necessities such as food, housing or heat. Clergy or social service professionals who know of someone in need should contact them and leave a brief message describing their request. 100 percent of the money received by A Friend in Need goes to help people in need.

South Acton Congregational Church
35 School Street
Acton, MA 01720

MetroWest Legal Services

MetroWest Legal Services provides free, civil legal representation to low-income people. Typical cases are: victims of domestic abuse with contested family law matters, tenants with eviction cases facing homelessness, children with unmet special education needs, individuals needing help obtaining medical and disability benefits, immigration issues for victims of domestic violence, representing homeless individuals and families to transition into permanent housing, and people transitioning from welfare to work.

63 Fountain Street, Suite 304
Framingham, MA 01702
(508) 620-1830 phone www.mwlegal.org

Domestic Violence Services of Central Middlesex

Domestic Violence Services Network, in partnership with the police departments in Maynard, Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Stow, and Wayland, Hanscom AFB, the Concord District Court, and volunteer advocates, provides outreach and direct support to victims of domestic violence. The organization also promotes education and programs that build awareness and help to prevent domestic violence.

P.O. Box 536
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 505-34151
Help Line: (888) 399-6111
www.dvsn.org

Eliot Community Human Services, Inc. (The Eliot Center)

The Eliot Center in Concord offers outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, adults and elderly. Services include crisis intervention, diagnostic evaluation, individual, couple, family and group therapy, psychopharmacological services, psychological testing, and 24-hour emergency coverage. In addition, our services help Maynard residents obtain additional resources that impact their functioning, such as housing, entitlements, medical or educational services. A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and other professionals provide a full range of clinical and support services resulting in a comprehensive and collaborative approach to mental health treatment. Most insurances are accepted and a sliding fee scale is available.

First Connections, a program of Justice Resource Institute (JRI)

First Connections offers its programs for free or at a low cost. First Connections provides parent education, support groups, playgroups, and a myriad of social activities to connect young families to each other and to their communities. All Maynard families with children birth through age six are welcome to take part in the full range of First Connections activities. First Connections is primarily funded through a Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant.

179 Great Road, Suite 104A
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 429-8284
www.firstconnections.org

Minute Man Arc for Human Services, Inc.

The Minute Man Arc supports people with developmental disabilities throughout their lives. The Arc strives to promote inclusion in the greater community, to maximize personal choice, and to help individuals reach their full potential in all areas of their lives. They serve more than 1,000 infants, toddlers, children and adults annually.

35 Forest Ridge Road
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 287-7932
www.minutemanarc.org

Dignity in Asylum (DIAS)

DIAS was founded to offer free housing and community support to people seeking asylum. Apart from a room for each supported asylum seeker, they also provide daily meals, transportation to lawyers’ and doctors’ appointments, English classes and overall direct, caring and comforting support. Their mission is to provide safe transitional housing and support for asylum seekers, refugees, people who have been granted asylum and unaccompanied minors at risk of homelessness.