We first determine the criteria for selection of grantees. The criteria are developed with the help of experts who provide services to Cambridge. The criteria are reviewed yearly. The applicants are matched with the criteria and ranked and given funds. This year's criteria are that the program must prove that it does the following things:
Homeless helped.
Successful program with a proven track record that works.
Funding will go to areas that are difficult to get funding such as operating costs and administrative costs.
Money used to leverage results.
Program is apolitical, with a non-profit status.
Program provides services in the Cambridge area or is Cambridge based.
2. How do programs apply for grants?
We used the forms developed by the Cambridge Community Foundation.
3. How do we make sure the programs do what they say?
Each year we ask each program to present their program at an annual forum in December. Applicants are also invited to explain their program at this symposium. The applicants are asked to define what success means to them and prove that they are successful. We asked applicants to made a three ring notebook so that they can show their program to others and we asked them to make a poster board to display and explain their program.
4. Can you give some examples of successful programs you have funded? In 1996, we ha donated moneys to the Harvard Square Churches Meals Program, and the University Lutheran Church Shelter. In 1997 we donated money to: Phillips Brooks House Assoc. for University Lutheran Shelter, Food For Free Committee, Inc., and CASPAR, Inc. In 1998 we donated to: CASPAR, Inc., Food For Free Committee, Inc., Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, and Harvard Square Churches Meals Program. In 1999 we donated to CASPAR, Inc., Solutions at Work, Community Learning Center, Food for Free, and Harvard Square Churches Meals Program. In 2000 we donated to Food for Free, CASPAR, Harvard Square Churches Meals Program and Solutions at Work. In 2001 we donated to Food for Free, CASPAR, Harvard Square Churches Meals Program, and Harvard Square Homeless Center. In 2002 we donated to CASPAR, Adbar Ethiopian Women’s Alliance, Food for Free, Harvard Square Churches Meals Program, and Solutions at Work. In 2003 we donated to CASPAR, Food for Free, and Harvard Square Churches Meal Program. In 2010 we contributed to CASPAR, Food for Free, On the rise and Harvard Square Churches Meal Program.
5. How can I get involved?
You can donate moneys to Cambridge Action Fund. You can donate time to help with events, publicity, outreach, etc. We need help with writing articles, planning and giving poetry readings and folk singing. We need help with our symposium/workshops. And we mostly need help inviting others to join us to reinvest in Cambridge. We believe in spending most of our time doing what we do best, and donating our money to programs that work. You may also volunteer at some of the homeless programs. You may contribute through Network for Good by clicking here.
6. How much must I contribute?
You decide! You must publicly be willing to tell how much. Maven Realty donates 2% of gross income. A Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge donates 5% of net income using the previous years total income. Individuals and businesses can decide how much and how they determine the amount.
7. What percentage of the money actually goes to fund organizations?
We are volunteers. There are no paid staff members. We do not use professional fund-raisers nor do we have an expensive office. Currently our only expenses that are not paid by volunteers are our bank service charges and our federal and state incorporation and filing fees.
8. How long have you been in existence?
We received IRS approval in February, 1996 and had an official announcement at Cambridge City Hall in June, 1996. We have had planning meetings and been organizing for several years before that.
9. Who else is involved?
Maven Realty, Bookkeeping Plus More, Cambridge Trust Company, First Estate Realty, Minuteman Press, A Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge, Sue Butler, Beth Cohen, Beatrice and Cleary, Prof. Kay Coleman, Lemelman & Lemelman, Cambridge Trust Company, Stone Pony Movers, and many individuals. Join US!
Recommendations from Annual Forum of Cambridge Action Fund, Inc. 617-547-1413. Email us additions at carmean2@yahoo.com or 1657 Cambridge St . #3, Cambridge MA 02138-4316 www.cambridgeactionfund.org
·When you meet homeless, say hello, don’t give them money [give a coupon for food or coffee or buy the newspaper Spare Change]. Know where they can eat that night and where they could stay.Learn what resources are available. If you are concerned about their health or safety call First Step 617-592-6895, the CASPAR street outreach program.
·Help make dinner! Volunteer at a meal center. At Harvard Square Churches’ Meal Program on Thursday come to Zero Garden Street in Harvard Square 2:30-5:30. Or help serve the meal 5:30-6:30 and join others having a healthy meal. Orientation and training given.
·Make small fundraising efforts to buy needed items. Diapers, new white socks, travel size toiletries are needed for the homeless says Gwen Pritchard of CASPAR (617-628-3850) Phone cards and T passes are needed says Susan Harrison of Transition House (617-868-1650)
·Identify sources of food which could be regularly collected by Food for Free. From May to October they need more help collecting food from farmers’ markets, or working on their farm which provides needed fresh vegetables. 617-868-2900
·Help On The Rise deliver its services to homeless women. Contact Marisa Curran at 617.497.7968 x36 or marisa.curran@ontherise.org
ØBring a home-cooked meal that On the Rise can serve as lunch.On The Rise will dish up your tasty contribution in our safe and inviting kitchen.
ØHelp a formerly homeless woman make her new house feel like home. We provide a list and bio from an On The Rise woman. You collect new or gently used items that a woman will need as she moves into permanent housing. Make the delivery to On The Rise and we will transport to the woman on your behalf.
ØSupport On the Rise's Wellness Program.Volunteer your services or special skills. OTR offers informal classes, groups and beauty services to allow women to break from the crisis in their lives and focus on interests and special skills. Weekly sign-up dates available for arts and crafts, puzzle solving, language, beauty treatments, music, art, conversation, outings.
ØVolunteer at OTR on a Saturday (First Saturday of the month 10am-2pm, excluding holidays).Sign-up and bring a friend to join a volunteer day. Sort through donations, clean up the grounds, do a creative project, prep for special events.
ØCollect Toiletries for the women at On the Rise.Save new and unused travel sized toiletries and deliver to On The Rise. This is a year round need that greatly helps women who require smaller sized amenities from day to day.
·Susan Harrison of Transition House (617-868-1650) suggests that volunteers can babysit when clients have doctor or counseling appointments. Help with moves, donate furniture, donate storage space, donate clothing (especially office quality clothing) or household items.
·Volunteer at a shelter. Training may be required. Harvard Square Homeless Shelter open Nov. 15- April 15 and usually needs volunteers when Harvard is on vacation.
·Volunteer to Serve the Homeless of Cambridge with HomeStart. Do you want to help homeless individuals in Cambridge end their homelessness? Do you have a welcoming, reassuring presence and a desire to help? HomeStart’s Central Square, Cambridge office is seeking volunteers to provide reception and referral services for our homeless and formerly homeless clients.Volunteers provide the first, important welcome and source of information for our clients.This is a wonderful opportunity to provide front desk reception to greet clients, refer walk-in clients to appropriate resources, answer the phone and assist with light administrative tasks in an office environment. We are looking for front desk coverage for a minimum of two hours per week sometime between 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.
HomeStart is dedicated to ending homelessness and changing lives.Homeless people are assisted to find housing and settle in the community while those on the verge of homelessness are helped to retain their housing.HomeStart also promotes the creation of housing solutions system-wide.To learn more about HomeStart please visit www.HomeStart.org.Please send an e-mail noting your interest, a brief description of your experience and a phone number for contact by a member of the HomeStart team to hooper@homestart.org.
·Volunteer with Harvard Square Homeless Shelter! Run entirely by students and volunteers, HSHS has a very large group of dedicated volunteers who contribute a wide variety of skills and time to the shelter. We normally have 14 directors, 14 supervisors, and around 150 volunteers.
·Shelter Shifts:
1.Breakfast (6:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast volunteers, arriving between 6am and 6:30am (except on Saturdays when they arrive an hour later), help the overnight volunteers cook breakfast for the guests and clean up the shelter. The shift ends when the shelter has been swept, mopped, and scrubbed down.
2.Dinner (7:00-9:15 PM): Dinner volunteers have a wide variety of tasks, from food salvaging from the Harvard dining halls, cooking dinner, and preparing the shelter for the arrival of guests, to greeting guests as they arrive, serving dinner, and running plates of food outside to those who are hungry but do not have a bed reserved for the night.
3.Evening (9:00-11:15 PM): Although not all fun and games--volunteers of this shift are mainly responsible for helping clean up after dinner--this shift is often cited as the most relaxing and laidback. Other than maintenance chores such as laundry and dishes, volunteers are free to sit back, chat, play cards or board games, or watch tv and movies with the guests.
4.Overnight (11:00-8:30 AM): Often dubbed the hardcore volunteers, overnighters work the longest shift. Other than assisting the breakfast volunteers with morning chores, however, tasks on this shift tend not to be demanding. Awake shifts are drawn up by the overnight supervisors so that everyone has scheduled sleep times. While overnight shifts perhaps one of the most demanding shifts, many volunteers find them to be one of the most fulfilling.
·Resource Advocacy:
1.Resource Advocates (7:30-10:30 PM) Resource advocates connect guests with community resources in order to facilitate the transition back into housing. Trained by professional lawyers and social service workers, they help guests with everything from resume building and job search to helping them sign up for health insurance and affordable housing. They also partner with community organizations such as Homestart as well as the Cambridge Student Partnership n the Multi Service Center, so that guests can continue accessing the same services after they leave our shelter. No prior experience necessary.
·Street Outreach:
1.Street Team (8:15-9:45) Street Team volunteers go out into Harvard Square Sunday through Friday nights to distribute basic amenities (i.e. food, blankets, and socks) and build relationships with people sleeping outside. They will also provide information regarding available services (i.e. healthcare, job searches, food during the day, etc.) as well as referrals to various shelters in the area.
