Our mission
Amherst Community Connections (ACC), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization since 2009, provides information/ referrals, case management, outreach and advocacy services to vulnerable individuals and families in the Pioneer Valley community. We help them secure immediate relief as they plan for and achieve long-term stability. We walk alongside, support and guide people to improve their quality of life by helping them access basic resources: housing, food, income, healthcare.
ACC raises awareness of the personal, social and economic ravages of homelessness and organizes the community to engage in long-term, coordinated solutions that emphasize homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, affordable housing and appropriate supportive services.
What we do
ACC provides case management, information/ referral, and advocacy services to people who are low-income, homeless, disabled, incarcerated, or struggling with substance abuse and addiction problems to create positive and lasting changes to their lives.
Information and referrals
ACC responds to inquiries from the community seeking information on legal aid providers, emergency services, soup kitchens, crisis centers, detox services, and other resources. ACC staff members assess needs and make referrals to appropriate resources and agencies in the community.
Case management
ACC staff members strive to empower and transform the lives of individuals in need by providing targeted services catered to each of our participant’s needs. ACC provides ongoing support to participants who need intensive assistance at our One-Stop Resource Center, which you can learn more about here.
Advocacy and intervention
ACC responds to calls from people in crisis. We take referrals from concerned residents, churches, house of corrections, and other social service agencies. ACC staff members identify community resources required to resolve the immediate crises faced by the people in our community.
Areas of advocacy include housing move-in costs, food stamp/fuel assistance applications, debt/credit issues, mediation with a landlord or utility company, and many other topics of interest.
What Inspires Us
Hear from our participants
“I’m set with rent. Thank you about the [help with] rent. You are such an angel. Thanks for being there you and your staff. That was a huge help. I will always be truly grateful. Thank you!!”
“Thank you very much. I am very impressed with your [one of the caseworkers’] clarity and your commitment to your clients. You are a gem in a sea of nameless, faceless caseworkers. You have been so helpful in straightening this situation, as unique as it is with all the passes and past dues.”
“We are both graduate students of UMass Amherst. We currently live at a place temporarily and we are expected to move out by the end of December. We have been on this housing search for about 2 months and we have not been that successful.
Finally, Edwin and I have been able to secure our own apartment with Kamins Real Estate, and we would like to extend our profound appreciation to you and all workers at the Amherst Community Connections. Thank you!”
“The caseworker is incredible. This work has helped me immensely. I have been trying to talk to [the apartment management team] for four years. We started at zero, and we accomplished one thing: moving out of the apartment. I was able to maintain my sanity and health all based on this move. Without [ACC], I could accomplish none of this. I needed an intermediator to intervene. Since day one, there were mice running around in the room. It made me sick and ashamed. [The caseworker] kept on calling and calling [the housing management], and they finally listened to me.”