Latest updates

Our 2023 Annual Report is out! Check out our first interview from the report. This conversation with Eda, a Head Start Parent and a member of the policy council, underscores the importance of community support when raising a family.

We hope you'll join us again this year for a very special evening with the Community Action Agency of Somerville.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors invites community members to join the fight for economic justice by making a monthly recurring donation to CAAS for $1, $5, or $10, underscoring that the biggest impacts are not always made when one person contributes large sums from time to time, but when every community member gives regularly however they can.

Last week, Governor Maura Healey announced sweeping changes to the Emergency Housing Assistance shelter system, with families facing homelessness due to no-fault eviction now among other groups receiving prioritization. But this begs the question: Why not end the practice of no-fault eviction and lower the need for emergency shelter among residents to begin with?

SNAP is a key pillar of support for families across our community. Families need it now more than ever.

We need you to take action for housing justice! Email our State Legislature by Friday, February 2nd at 5:00 PM and tell them that our city needs rent control now.

Nicole Eigbrett shares thanks to the community members who have made the last few years possible.

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is announcing that Nicole Eigbrett, Director of Community Organizing, will be stepping down after almost four years leading this vital program in mid-February 2024.

CAAS is excited to announce our first Danceathon fundraiser! Join the Somerville Shakeup and help us raise money to continue the fight against poverty and economic injustice in our city.

2023 brought changes, surprises, challenges, and successes at every turn. With so many notable moments, we wanted to look back at the year, celebrate the progress that has been made in a short twelve months, and look ahead at what’s to come. Thank you for making this year one that our community can end proudly.

October marks Head Start Awareness Month, a time to reflect on this program and celebrate the lives it’s changed, both across the nation and right here in our community! We’re taking a look back at the history of the Head Start and sharing facts about the program that you might not have known about!

Thank you to our legislators who restored this vital funding to the budget!

What does it take to build a movement that not only attempts to, but succeeds in, winning funding for affordable housing? Here's a look into the process from our Somerville FY24 City Budget Campaign.

We sat down with Jordan Harris, CAAS Board President and Pastor at Connexion, to learn more about how he got involved with anti-poverty advocacy and his experience being on the CAAS Board of Directors!

We’re thrilled to announce the release of the CAAS 2022 Annual Report! We’re sharing program overviews, reflecting on the work we’ve done together, and sharing stories from the clients we serve.

May is Community Action Month! This month, we’re celebrating the power that we hold as communities to work together and end poverty.

Biani is a rising junior at Tufts University majoring in International Relations and minoring in Cultural Anthropology and Arabic. Through the Tufts Tisch Scholars program, they served as the 2022-23 ERN Member Coordinator under the Community Organizing & Advocacy program.

Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? Volunteers play an essential role in CAAS’s mission to end poverty and build equitable systems in Somerville, so we want to highlight their contributions and celebrate their impact!

Access to early childhood education is not a colorblind issue, and we cannot achieve equity in early education if we do not think about the ways race impacts our childcare systems. Black families face more barriers to quality childcare compared to White families, and a workforce largely consisting of women of color is one of the lowest paid groups nationwide.

This month, we sat down with Head Start teacher Yashmina to learn more about her experience in the classroom! She shared her experience planning curriculum and working with parents to create healthy and engaging classroom environments. She also reminded us of just how much we can learn from children while we teach them!

Welcome to CAAS Staff Spotlight #5! This time, we’re talking with Michael, Specialist Case Manager here at CAAS. Michel works directly with clients to help navigate challenging benefits systems, and is committed to making this process more accessible.

Want to show CAAS some love this Valentine’s Day? Here are a few ways to do it!

January represents a time for change, with the end of holiday celebrations ushering in a wave of resolutions. January is also National Poverty Awareness Month. This year, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is shining a light on this critical issue and calling for more action against the root causes of poverty and understanding for those experiencing it. We ask you to join us to think more critically about poverty and use this start to the year to reflect on how we understand the issue in our community. 

We sat down with Ashley Tienken, Director of the Housing Advocacy Program (HAP) here at CAAS, to talk about the process the Housing Advocacy Program team made in 2022 and what they hope to achieve in 2023. Housing is one of the most pressing issues in Somerville, and the HAP team plays a vital role in helping to meet the needs of our community members. We’re looking forward to seeing what 2023 has in store!