Finding Your Way: Emergency Services

Fire and Police

For Emergencies: call 911 

Framingham Fire Department
10 Loring Drive, Framingham, MA 01702 
Phone: 508-532-5930

Framingham Main Police Station 
1 William Welch Way, Framingham, MA 01702 
Telephone: 508-872-1212

The police in the United States are employees of the people. Their main responsibility is to protect and serve the people of the community. When you have a problem, such as if you lose your wallet or have an auto accident, you should call the police and tell them what has happened. 911 is an emergency telephone service that is available everywhere in the U.S. Call this number only if there is a true emergency- someone is dangerously sick, hurt, or in danger. This number will also reach the Fire Department in case of fire. If you need help from the Framingham police or fire department and it is not an emergency, call one of the numbers above. If you live in a different town, you must look up the phone number and call the police in your town. 

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence may take many forms: physical, emotional, and sexual. Examples are constant criticism, threats, intimidation, unwanted sexual contact, sexual assault, attempts to control your actions, restricting access to finances and/or communication, physical abuse (pushing, shoving, slapping, punching), and homicide. Victims in this situation often feel scared, angry, helpless, responsible, confused, and isolated. Abusers can be controlling, jealous, unpredictable, violent, and abusive.

Massachusetts law provides immediate protection to anyone being abused by a spouse, former spouse, blood relative, current or former household member, or someone with whom you have had a significant dating relationship. Contact any of the emergency hotlines below for assistance. 

 

Massachusetts SafeLink Resources
Massachusetts statewide SAFELINK toll-free domestic violence hotline:
877-785-2020 or TTY 877-521-2601
Chat online: CasaMyrna.org/chat

 

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Telephone: 1-800-799-7233
Call if you or someone you care about has or is experiencing domestic or relationship-based violence and needs support, advice, and connections to a safe place.

 

Voices Against Violence
Office Telephone: 508-872-4853
Hotline: 1-800-593-1125 / 508-626-8686
Voices Against Violence is a program of the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) in Framingham. Its services are free and confidential: 24-hour emergency hotline, crisis intervention, individual counseling, legal advocacy, support groups, battered women's shelter, referrals, and community education.

 

National Sexual Assault Hotline
Telephone: 1-800-656-4673
Call if you or someone you care about has experienced sexual assault or harassment and needs support, assistance, and advice.

 

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Telephone: 1-888-373-7888
Call if you or someone you care about has been brought to the United States against their will or is being held against their will.

 

Shelters and Emergency Housing

Massachusetts EA Emergency Family Shelter
Telephone: 866-584-0653
Call to learn how to apply for emergency shelter if you are pregnant or have children under 21 years old.

 

Common Ground Resource Center, SMOC
7 Bishop St., Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 508-620-2690
Common Ground Resource Center (CGRC) provides a single point of entry into all of SMOC’s emergency, permanent and sober housing for single adults in the region. CGRC’s emergency housing includes Turning Point, Roland’s House, Shadows women’s shelter, and over 300 units of housing including peer support focused single room occupancy. Turning Point and The Roland’s House are each an 18-bed emergency shelter program for unaccompanied adult men. Shadows is an 18 -bed emergency shelter program for unaccompanied adult women.

 

Family Promise Metrowest
Telephone: 508-318-4820
The shelter program serves families that are currently experiencing homelessness and have at least one child under the age of 18 living with them. The program offers safe accommodations, meals, clothing, and individualized family coaching, empowering families with the resources and encouragement they need to find affordable housing and develop life skills essential for maintaining stability.

 

Cash Benefits and Food Assistance

Cash benefits; SNAP Benefits (formerly Food Stamps)

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)
DTA Framingham Transitional Assistance Office
300 Howard Street, Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 508-661-6600

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is a state-run office that helps low-income families with cash benefits and/or SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps). The DTA cash benefit programs include Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC).

You may be eligible for DTA benefits and/or SNAP benefits if you are low-income. Eligibility for SNAP is based on many different factors, including a family's income, expenses, the number of people who live in the home, the age of the family members, and other family characteristics. You do not have to be unemployed, however your income must fall within DTA guidelines. SNAP is not part of a public charge test. If you are not a U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant, it is safe for you to apply and get SNAP for an eligible family member (like a U.S. citizen child).

SNAP benefits include monthly funds on a debit-like EBT card to buy food; an additional $40, $60 or $80 a month to put back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy local produce via the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP); SNAP Path to Work free education and training opportunities; and connections to other kinds of help, such as utility discounts, free school meals, direct eligibility for Head Start child care, discounted internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program, and discounted admissions to many museums and cultural institutions via EBT Card to Culture.

 

WIC Program, SMOC
7 Bishop St., Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 508-620-1445
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides free food and nutrition information to help pregnant and postpartum participants and parents/caregivers of infants and children under five. Services/benefits include healthy foods and infant formula, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. Receiving WIC benefits will not prevent you from getting a green card. Eligibility is based on income level.

 


 

Food Pantries

A full list of food pantries in Framingham and surrounding towns can be found here, via MetroWest Food Collaborative: https://www.metrowestfoodcollaborative.org/_files/ugd/cc164f_5f78de7ad382446c9f431dc4885fa1d5.pdf

Pearl Street Cupboard and Cafe at Park
46 Park St., Framingham MA 01702
Telephone: 508-370-4921
Pantry Hours: Monday through Friday 9am-1pm • No Wednesday Evening Hours

Café Hours:
Breakfast: Monday - Friday 9am - 10am
Lunch: Monday - Friday 12pm - 1pm
Dinner: Monday - Friday 5:30pm-7pm (Dine-In & Take-Out)

There is no charge for services. Emergency food will be offered Monday - Friday during normal café hours.

 

Springwell's Meals on Wheels
Telephone: (617) 926-4100
The Home Delivered Meals Program provides seniors (60 and older) with a nutritions lunch delivered to their door by a friendly driver for up to 5 days per week. the lunch contains at least 1/3 of the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance of nutrients, and a variety of menus are available to meet dietary needs for a number of medical issues and preferences.

To be eligible, you must be 60 or older, have a physical, emotional or cognitive impairment, and/or have inadequate kitchen facilities to prepare nutritionally adequate meals, or be unable to attend a Community Dining Site and lack a support system to assist with meal preparation.

 

Emergency Hotlines

Parents Helping Parents (Emergency Services Parental Stress Hotline)
Telephone: 1-800-632-8188
This is a statewide, confidential service for parents and caregivers to talk about the challenges of raising children and receive kindness, understanding, and the non-judgmental support needed to help prevent a situation from escalating into a crisis. Counselors are on duty to answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operators have access to some interpreters.

 

Poison Control Center
Telephone: 1-800-222-1222
This is a free, confidential service run by the Department of Public Health. Call this number first if someone eats or drinks anything that might be poison. It is important to have information about the substance or medication ready. The hotline operators have access to interpreters in many different languages. 

 

211 Information Line
Telephone: Dial 211 or (877) 211-6277
This is a free information and referral service available 24/7, which helps find the right agency or program to meet a variety of needs related to child care, education, employment, family, finances, health, housing, legal issues, recreation, immigration, and emotional support. Available in English or 180 other languages.

 

988: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Telephone: Dial 988 if you or a loved one is considering harming themselves or experiencing emotional distress.

 

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Telephone: 1-888-373-7888
Call if you or someone you care about has been brought to the United States against their will or is being held against their will.

 

 

 

April 2024