CAAS helps local families and individuals achieve financial security while working to eliminate the root causes of economic injustice.

Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) has been the federally designated anti-poverty agency serving Somerville, Massachusetts since 1981. CAAS’ mission is to help local families and individuals achieve financial security while working to eliminate the root causes of economic injustice. Each year we leverage the work of some 100 employees, 150 volunteers and roughly $11 million in federal, state, local and private funding to:

• Expand and promote opportunities for all Somerville residents in the fields of education, employment, housing, health, and improved neighborhood life; and

• Serve as a structure for empowering both low-income constituencies and those whose full involvement in the community has been obstructed or discouraged by oppression and discrimination.

CAAS’ holistic approach to community work and wrap-around services considers the web of connections between housing, physical and mental health, employment, nutrition, immigration, education, transportation, family composition, civic engagement, etc., and CAAS supports clients in these areas and more through direct services or referral. In order to be effective, CAAS creates and maintains strong and positive relationships with service providers of every description, including government, nonprofits, elected officials and others. Given the multiple barriers that low-income families often face, the seamlessness of services provided is often critical to clients’ success.