SOUTH MIDDLESEX OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL INC

In 1986, SMOC created a wholly owned subsidiary, the South Middlesex Non-Profit Housing Corporation, to address the need for safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income families, individuals and disabled adults. The chief mission of the SMOC Housing Corporation is to preserve and improve existing affordable housing and to develop new housing choices for low- and moderate- income residents. The SMOC Housing Corporation is a full-service real estate organization that performs all property and asset management functions including 24/7 property services, housing operations, capital planning, marketing, tenant relations, leasing, contract compliance, licensing, consulting, construction and project management, financing strategies and technical assistance. SMOC’s Housing Corporation has demonstrated an imaginative approach to regional housing needs by integrating human services with rental and program units serving individuals and families while providing safe, decent and affordable housing choices for area households.

Common Ground Resource Center (CGRC)
Program Description/Services
The CGRC is the hub of SMOC's housing and shelter services for single adults in Metrowest. The CGRC provides a single point of entry into all SMOC's emergency, transitional and sober housing for the targeted population. The CGRC is staffed by an inter-disciplinary team that evaluates all referrals to make the most appropriate placements and coordinates all housing, case management and services for guests and participants in SMOC's continuum of housing and services in Metrowest. The CGRC operates with the goals of homeless prevention, diversion, reduction of shelter stays and stabilization and maximized self-sufficiency.

The CGRC was opened in October 2006 and is located at SMOC's headquarters, 7 Bishop St, Framingham.

Located in Sprinfield, MA, Open Pantry Community Services operates a food pantry, soup kitchen/prepared meals, case management, housing search assistance, medical, mental health, and substance abuse referrals for homeless people living in area shelters,
on the streets, or temporarily doubled up with friends or relatives, a teen parent program, housing for formerly homeless women, and more. Please visit www.openpantry.org for more information.

Lowell Transitional Living Center (LTLC) provides the most vulnerable adults in our community with shelter, showers, laundry, and food. Case Managers specialize in housing, financial assistance, and health and wellness. They are here to empower guests and become partners in the journey from homelessness to housing.

The role of a case manager is to adapt individual service plans to meet each person’s needs. This can range from obtaining a form of identification and health insurance all the way to advocating on their behalf to receive fair access to affordable housing.

Case Managers promote overall stability, emphasizing physical and behavioral health and nutrition. When needed, our case managers work with those in need of drug/alcohol rehabilitation through relationships with local rehabilitation programs, as well as proving transportation.

Our approach matches what people experiencing homelessness want and seek our help to achieve, and it is particularly effective for people who have lost their homes due to a personal crisis. For more information, please visit ltlc.org

The Greater Worcester Housing Connection
508-757-0103
As part of a collaborative community effort to reduce and eliminate homelessness, the Greater Worcester Housing Connection provides permanent housing solutions along with services and linkages to resources that include employment, health and behavioral health, education and income maximization opportunities delivered in an individualize approach toward the goal of enhanced self-sufficiency.

SMOC Behavioral Healthcare (SBH)
SMOC Behavioral Healthcare is a division of SMOC that provides substance abuse and mental health outpatient services to individuals, children and families. In addition, SBH provides substance abuse residential services to individuals including pregnant and post-partum women. It has as its mission:

Helping individuals and families regain and maintain emotional well being and assisting them to live productive and self-sufficient lives
Being a part of SMOC’s vision to have a continuum of care for clients transitioning through many levels of care
Helping individuals and heads of household achieve and maintain sobriety
In carrying out this mission, we treat all people with respect, we empower people to be responsible we consider the whole person, we ensure a safe environment for all, we promote a culturally sensitive workplace, we encourage family and community ties.

Our Programs Include
Outpatient Clinic Services: Medication Evaluations and Medication Maintenance, Psychosocial Evaluations, Individual and Group Therapy
Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)
Operating Under the Influence (OUI)
Community Support Case Management Program (CSP)
Community Support Program for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness(CSPECH)

WIC is a nutrition program with the goal of keeping pregnant and breastfeeding women, new moms and kids under age 5 healthy! To do this, WIC provides the following benefits free of charge: Personalized nutrition consultations and group education with Nutrition Professionals; Healthy food and infant formula; Summer Farmers’ Market Coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables for eligible individuals; Electronic benefits via the WIC Card; WICShopper app; Breastfeeding classes and support; Happiest Baby on the Block classes to calm and soothe babies; Good Food Project cooking classes and food demonstrations; WICSmart online education; Referrals to medical and other community services;.

Voices' mission is to end sexual and domestic violence. Voices staff members work to empower victims and survivors to help themselves and their children. Program Advocates work in partnership with individuals and families to ensure their safety, create stable home environments, gain independence, and to develop personal and economic self-sufficiency. Voices is also a social change organization, working toward the elimination of violence on a societal level through community education, primary prevention and increased public awareness and action. Voices also works in close collaboration with public safety and criminal justice professionals throughout the region. Voices provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence in the MetroWest area. Services are provided in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and are available to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

Services include a 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention, confidential short term emergency shelter, counseling and support groups, information and referrals, and medical, legal and criminal justice advocacy. Voices also offers Supervised Vistation services on a sliding fee schedule through KidSpace. For more information about KidSpace, please call 508-962-2643.

In addition to direct services for victims and survivors, Voices conducts outreach and education to community groups and professionals, as well as primary prevention activities to address the root causes of violence and prevent the development of perpetration. **24 Hour HOTLINES: 1-800-593-1125 or 508-626-8686 (TTY-friendly)

Located within the Opportunity Center, the Joan Brack Adult Learning Center (JBALC) provides free GED classes for adults who do not have a high school diploma. Classes are designed to help students prepare to take the GED exam. The JBALC is a supportive, educational community that is interactive, fosters cooperative learning and is individualized around the learning style of each student. Classes are offered Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 10am and 3pm.

Young Parents Program: The Young Parents Program is a 20 hour a week GED program and provides an afternoon of parenting and literacy instruction by a qualified parenting instructor. You must be under 22 with at least one chuild and working with the DTA to be considered for the program. The hours of the program are the same as GED: Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm.

English as a Second Language: ESL classes are offered year round for those who are seeking to improve their English language skills. Class times are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-noon. Come to the Opportunity Center at SMOC (2nd floor) to fill out an application. Classes are free.

For more information on GED, YPP and ESL classes call 508-620-2677