About Us

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), a private non-profit agency incorporated in 1981, is the legally designated anti-poverty agency for Somerville. The mission of CAAS is to reduce poverty among local families and individuals while working to counteract, and whenever possible eliminate, the societal conditions that cause and perpetuate poverty.

Key achievements of CAAS in 2009 include the following:

• CAAS used economic stimulus money to create a host of new programs previously identified as needed by the Somerville low-income community, including Pre-Employment Training, a Medical-Legal Partnership to respond to the negative health impacts of dilapidated housing, Housing Search, Tax Preparation, and Anti-Foreclosure Advocacy and Organizing.

• CAAS scored 100% on the Federal Administration for Children and Families review of its Head Start programs in Somerville and Cambridge.

• Teen participants in CAAS’ Jovenes Latinos program completed a comprehensive occupational safety and health study with Tufts University (2005-09). The youth surveyed immigrant workers, helped them to get treatment for work-related illnesses and injuries, distributed information on workplace health and safety, and led a workplace safety workshop for young workers.

• CAAS helped residents at the Clarendon Hill Public Housing Development in Somerville to revive their Tenant Association and plan a new community garden at the Development.

• CAAS established a one-stop assistance site in Somerville where residents can apply for food stamps, fuel assistance and emergency cash assistance. Formerly, the closest site for food stamps or cash assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance was in Revere, MA, seven miles away.

CAAS continues to identify community needs as they emerge, and coordinating the community’s response to meet the needs as they arise.

Last Updated: February 22, 2010.