Help for bills, rent, medications, and other living expenses
The Salvation Army of Massachusetts has a location in Greenfield, a town in Franklin County. The Salvation Army is a charity that provides free food from local pantries, housing and rent payment assistance, electric, gas, water, and general utility bill payment programs. Some families may qualify for grants that can help with expenses.
The non-profit provides other social services such as free Christmas baskets and holiday meals, Thanksgiving baskets, prescription expense assistance, and information on other local charities and non-profit organizations in the region. The Salvation Army in Franklin County can be reached by calling (413) 773 – 3154, or by finding more information on their programs online.
Montague Catholic Social Ministries provides financial assistance and grants to families with children under the age of five living in Gill and Montague. The Salvation Army provides assistance to qualified individuals in the form of emergency food and clothing, utility and heating bill arrearage assistance, and referral to other programs and charities. Salvation Army vouchers are also available for residents of Millers Falls, Montague City, and Turners Falls. call the number 863-4805 and select option 2
This organization provides many different types of assistance for people who are struggling financially. This includes help for those who are working but still poor, low income elderly people, and those who are unemployed. A list of things is given below, but it is not complete.
The food pantry provides food, groceries, and farmers market coupons to low-income individuals, the elderly, and others who need assistance.
The Electric Efficiency Program provides information and resources on how to save electricity, including weatherization tips and tricks, to help lower your utility bills.
There are several options for energy bill assistance. The program is designed to help low-income people with the cost of their winter heating bills. It provides assistance with paying for the utility bills and helps to keep people warm during the winter months. People who earn a certain amount of money or less and families can receive help paying for fuel and heating oil. They may also be able to get help paying to make their home’s heating system more efficient, help with electric bills, and make their home more weatherproof.
First Call for Help is a service that helps people find and access resources like government programs, food, public benefits, social services, counseling, transportation, rent help, emergency assistance, and housing aid.
Each class offers different tips on how to manage money and debt. One focus may be on how to get out of debt, while another may focus on how to get a mortgage.
If you’re in need of assistance from the Franklin County Community Action organization, give them a call at (413) 773-3834.
Foreclosure assistance and mortgage help in Franklin County
The Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority provides counseling and other services to people who are struggling with their mortgage or are facing eviction. They also offer housing search and transition assistance to people who are homeless or need to move. For mortgage assistance programs in Massachusetts, you can either call the phone number (413) 863 – 9781, or click here.
The Western MA Foreclosure Education Center offers counseling and support services to at-risk homeowners in Franklin County and Greenfield to help them keep their homes and avoid foreclosure.
Food and other aid
The Franklin County Community Meals Program is a non-profit organization that provides meals to low-income residents of Franklin County, Ohio. The Orange Food Pantry is a service that provides low-income families with 3-5 days’ worth of food, diapers, and/or personal hygiene products. To dial this number, press 413 then 772 then 1033 on your phone.
Hilltown Community Churches Food Pantry is a food pantry that serves residents of Ashfield, Buckland, Conway, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Monroe, Plainfield, Rowe and Shelburne, Massachusetts.