Housing and Legal Help Resource Locator
Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities - find housing, heating assistance, legal help, and other services available to South Hadley residents. Select South Hadley in the drop-down menu.
Food Pantries, Meal Programs, and Assistance
Neighbors Helping Neighbors - South Hadley
Client-choice food pantry offering pick-up and home delivery.
Phone: 413-437-7593
Food Pantry Hours:
Wednesday: 12:30 PM-6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Deliveries are made on Tuesday.
South Hadley Council on Aging
The Council on Aging offers a free congregate lunch (with a $3 suggested donation) every weekday for individuals aged 60 or over.
To sign up, please call the Council on Aging by 11am the day before at 413-538-5030 x 6200
The Café also provides low-priced meals options Monday-Friday. The daily menu is posted each morning right here on the Council on Aging Facebook page.
Additional Resources
Find a meal site near you - Community meal sites offer free meals to individuals and families.
Use the Food Bank of Western MA’s Food Finder - A tool to help you locate food assistance.
Call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (call or text): 800-645-8333
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Call Mass 2-1-1 or visit online
Mutual Aid Networks - Western Massachusetts
Buy Nothing groups on Facebook are organizing for food share. Check the Buy Nothing South Hadley group and groups in nearby towns and cities.
SNAP Benefits
For up-to-date shutdown information and emergency food resources visit:
Housing - Emergency and Rental Assistance
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
Provides short-term emergency funding (up to $7,000 per 12-month period) to help you with eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. You may use the money for rent, utilities, moving costs, and mortgage payments.
Way Finders is the local administrative agency for RAFT. Contact Way Finders by email info@wayfinders.org or call 413-233-1500 for assistance applying for RAFT.
HomeBASE
A program funded by the state that can provide up to $30,000 in assistance over 2 years for families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter.
HomeBASE assistance can pay for:
Monthly payments to help with rent for up to 2 years, for your own apartment, living with a host or co-sharing an apartment.
First and last month's rent, security deposit, and broker’s fee for a new apartment
Landlord Incentives: HomeBASE may be used to pay landlord bonuses equal to up-to-one month’s rent of the unit.
Rent and utility arrears: HomeBASE can pay up to $5,000 for outstanding rent or utilities arrears, if the debt is stopping you from signing a new lease.
Furniture: $2,500 is available to help your family buy beds and/or a kitchen table and chairs.
Moving expenses (in-state and out of state moving expense details below)
In addition to financial resources, HomeBASE provides a case manager who helps each family address housing issues and find community support for education, job training, finding a job, and childcare.
Way Finders
Help for renters: emergency help with overdue rent or utility bills, help applying for a housing subsidy, help with facing housing discrimination, and other emergencies.
Foreclosure prevention: assistance applying for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) if you are behind on mortgage payments or have accumulated overdue utility bills.
Homelessness support: housing search support, assistance applying for RAFT, shelter referral information.
If at any time you need assistance, email info@wayfinders.org, call 413-233-1500, or visit one of the three Way Finders Housing Centers.
Fuel Assistance
The Massachusetts Fuel Assistance Program helps individuals and families by paying a portion of their heating bills from November 1st to April 30th. You can apply through Community Action Pioneer Valley’s online application or by visiting their offices in-person. Offices are located in Greenfield and Northampton, and more information can be found at www.communityaction.us/program/fuel-assistance/.
Who Should Apply
Renters and homeowners who pay for their own heat. Renters whose heat is included in their rent. (Those who have a housing subsidy must not receive a utility allowance.) Eligibility is based on the number of people in your household and the combined gross (before taxes) income of all persons residing in the household.
Income Guidelines
Family Size | Annual Income Limit |
1 | $51,777 |
2 | $67,709 |
3 | $83,641 |
4 | $99,573 |
Please be aware that due to the federal government shutdown, CAPV has limited funds to use for heat emergencies only. The program will not be distributing regular benefits until further notice.
If you have questions or concerns about your fuel assistance application, please reach out to the program at 413-774-2310 or 800-370-0940, or fuelassistance@communityaction.us.