| Last updated on May 6, 2005 |
CAAS Mission Statement:
The mission of CAAS is to reduce poverty among local families and individuals while working to counteract, and whenever possible eliminate, the societal conditions that cause poverty. CAAS serves as a structure for empowering low-income constituencies and all others whose full involvement in the community has been obstructed or discouraged by oppression and discrimination. In 1996, the Advocacy Program developed the Eviction Prevention Project to provide assistance to Somerville tenants who are facing eviction and are unable to obtain the services of an attorney. It is our goal to help tenants maintain and improve the conditions of their present housing situation. Clients are assigned to one of our three advocates who speak English, Haitian Creole, or Spanish, and who are thoroughly trained and experienced in the eviction process. If the case is appropriate for our program, the advocate will explain to the tenant his/her rights, work to file the necessary paperwork, assist them in preparing a defense, and accompany them to court. In many cases, our advocates help negotiate a favorable settlement with the landlord. The service is free. However, it is important to note that our advocates are not attorneys and, therefore, cannot speak for the tenant in court.
History:
The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), a private nonprofit agency that incorporated in 1981, is the legally-designated antipoverty agency for Somerville. It is part of state, regional, and national networks of community action agencies.
Contact person: Melissa McWhinney, Advocacy Director, (phone), (email)
Address:
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66-70 Union Square
Somerville, MA 02143
(See a map) |
Web Site: None specified
Directions:
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The Community Action Agency of Somerville is accessible from the 86, 87 and 91 bus lines.
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Porter,
Walk distance (in minutes): 15
Nearest Bus Stop: The Community Action Agency of Somerville is accessible from the 86, 87 and 91 bus line.
For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com/schedmaps/index.cfm |
Volunteer Reflections
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Overall Experience 
All of the staff at CAAS were very friendly and eager to work with me; I felt like I made a productive contribution to their work.
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posted on June 19, 2006 |
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