Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Let’s step up for our neighbors, together.

 

Join the fight for economic justice.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors invites you to join the fight for economic justice in our community. By making a monthly recurring donation for $1, $5, or $10, you can contribute to both the immediate and the long-term wellbeing of our neighbors.

The Community Action Agency of Somerville assists low-income households in securing affordable housing and rental assistance funds, and is a key provider of Head Start preschool care and family support services in Cambridge and Somerville, helping to pave pathways for success across cities. But we know that economic injustice is a systemic problem, and requires systemic solutions. That’s why we also organize for long-term change by advocating for investment in affordable housing, with residents most at-risk of displacement leading the way.

By becoming a supporter, anyone can help build the foundations for policies that work for all of us, while also addressing the immediate needs of your neighbors today.

 
 

Change takes a marathon, not a sprint.

The biggest change happens over time. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is cemented in the idea that we all have the ability to be a part of the movement for economic justice. The biggest impacts are made when every community member is in that fight for the long-term, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors makes it easy to do that.

Joining CAAS’ Neighbors Helping Neighbors campaign makes that easier than ever. Become a donor, and every month, you’ll automatically make a donation to CAAS. That means that every month, you’ll be doing your part to help your neighbors thrive.

 
 

Why here and why now?

 

  • Somerville is in a time of change. Rents in Somerville have risen at three times the rate of inflation in the last few years. Coupled with a higher cost of living, this is pushing families on tight budgets into, or even further into poverty. That’s why we’re working to help everyone in our community today, and building a movement we need to create change for the future.

  • In the last few years, Somerville has seen an influx of new neighbors move to the city. And to that, we say: Welcome.

    Whether you’ve lived in Somerville for decades or are just joining us, Neighbors Helping Neighbors not only welcomes everyone with open arms, but provides a way for all of us to connect to with our neighbors, both old and new.

  • The work of ending poverty is fundamentally about building communities of mutual aid and support. Chipping in where you can on a regular basis both acknowledges that mutual dependency and affirms our membership in the loving and caring community that we want to live in.

One in ten

One in ten people in Somerville live below the federal poverty line. In 2024, the federal poverty threshold for two adults and two children was $31,200.

 
 

How you can get involved

 

Join us in the fight for economic justice by making a monthly donation of $1, $5, or $10. For less than a cup of coffee, you can help a family keep their lights on. You can help a parent buy new school supplies for their child. And you can help build a future where all of our families and neighbors can thrive.

You can also purchase our Neighbors Helping Neighbors merchandise, including tote bags, shirts, and stickers.