Public Safety Net on Cape Cod

Free 24/7 referral line for local services incl. veterans, fuel assistance, food & housing

Credentials

Free public/nonprofit resource

Cost

Free

How to start

Dial 2-1-1 or call toll-free 877-211-6277; you can also search online

Hours

24/7

Languages

Help available in many languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese and Vietnamese

Food pantry, community meals, homeless outreach and hospital chaplaincy, open to anyone.

Free. Hands of Hope pantry in West Harwich, 508-432-1312.

Office

Hyannis

Address

232 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601

A Cape-wide coalition, co-run with the Barnstable County Sheriff, working on elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.

For an active concern, call Elder Protective Services on 800-244-4630 in the day or the state hotline 800-922-2275 at night and weekends.

Service area

All 15 Cape towns (all 15 Councils on Aging are partners)

For older adults

Trains people who work with seniors every day to spot abuse, neglect and scams and to know how to report them.

Pays a one-off emergency bill — rent, utilities, car repair, medical costs — for Cape residents.

Free. Formerly the Needy Fund. Toll-free 800-422-1446.

Office

Hyannis

How to start

Call or email; an intake worker calls back in the order requests arrive. Phones answered weekdays only.

Who qualifies

Residents of Barnstable, Dukes or Nantucket County who have lived on the Cape or Islands at least 12 months in a row

Service area

All 15 Cape towns, plus Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

For older adults

Can help with medicine, co-pays and medical equipment as well as heating fuel (oil, propane, wood) and utility bills.

Independent living centre: advocacy, benefits counselling, housing help and nursing home transition.

Free. 765 Attucks Lane. Toll-free 800-541-0282, voice and TTY.

Office

Hyannis

How to start

Call or email CORD to begin intake

Service area

Cape Cod and the Islands

For older adults

Its options counselor, working with Elder Services, helps seniors weigh staying home versus a nursing home, and helps nursing-home residents move back to the community.

FREE info, referral & in-home care assessment; runs Meals on Wheels & coordinates SHINE. Google 3.6/28 - the essential first call

Credentials

Free public/nonprofit resource

Cost

Free

How to start

Call Information & Referral at (508) 595-8106 or fill in the referral form on their website

Address

68 Route 134, South Dennis, MA 02660

Service area

All 15 Cape towns plus Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (22 towns)

Languages

Interpreters available; website offers Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Spanish

Free emergency repair or replacement of a broken furnace, boiler, burner or oil tank for homeowners who qualify for fuel assistance.

Ask for ext. 106. Runs in heating season, Nov 1–Apr 30. If you get fuel assistance (HEAP) you are likely eligible. Covers heating repairs and replacements, burners, oil tanks and limited asbestos removal; does not cover hot water heaters or plumbing. Email hwap@haconcapecod.org. Renters: your landlord must keep the heat working.

Cost

Free if eligible

How to start

Call (508) 771-5400 ext. 106 or email hwap@haconcapecod.org; apply for fuel assistance first if you have not

Hours

Heating season Nov 1–Apr 30

Address

255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601

Case managers help people keep their housing and get through a rent, heat or medical crisis.

Free. 8 Main Street. Serves Harwich through Provincetown, plus Dennis and Yarmouth programmes.

Office

Orleans

Cost

Free

How to start

Call (508) 255-9667 or email help@hpccapecod.org; a case manager assesses your situation

Hours

Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–12

For older adults

Its 'Let's Talk About Tomorrow' program helps seniors plan for their long-term housing needs.

A free neighborhood food pantry in Brewster where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Brewster

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Tue, Wed & Thu 10am–noon

Address

Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631

A free neighborhood food pantry in Chatham where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Chatham

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Tue 4–6pm; Thu 3–5pm

Address

St. Christopher’s, 625 Main St, Chatham, MA 02633

Runs nine Lower and Outer Cape food pantries and gives emergency help with rent, heat, utilities and medical costs.

Free. Office Monday to Thursday 9:30–3:30, Friday to noon. Pantries weekday mornings.

Office

Orleans

Cost

Free

How to start

Call, email or visit the office during office hours

Address

19 Brewster Cross Road, Orleans, MA 02653

Service area

Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet

A free neighborhood food pantry in Eastham where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure. Eastham residents 59+ can also get groceries through the Eastham Council on Aging.

Office

Eastham

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Tue 4–6pm; Wed 10am–noon; Thu 2–4pm

Address

Eastham United Methodist Church, 3200 State Hwy (Route 6), Eastham, MA 02642

A free neighborhood food pantry in Harwich where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Harwich

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Mon 1–3pm; Tue 3:30–5pm; Wed 12:30–2:30pm; Fri 10am–noon

Address

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 310 Route 137, Harwich, MA 02645

A free neighborhood food pantry in Orleans where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Orleans

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

73 Main St: Tue 10am–noon. Main pantry (19 Brewster Cross Rd): Mon–Fri 9:30am–noon, plus Wed 3:30–5pm

Address

Orleans Methodist Church, 73 Main St, Orleans, MA 02653; main pantry at 19 Brewster Cross Rd, Orleans

A free neighborhood food pantry in Provincetown where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Provincetown

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Wed 10am–2pm; Thu 10am–2pm

Address

Provincetown Methodist Church, 20 Shank Painter Rd, Provincetown, MA 02657

A free neighborhood food pantry in Truro where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Truro

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Tue 10am–12:30pm; Wed 10am–12:30pm; Thu 4–6pm

Address

Truro Community Center, 7 Standish Way, Truro, MA 02666

A free neighborhood food pantry in Wellfleet where older adults and families can pick up groceries close to home.

Run by Lower Cape Outreach Council. Free groceries, no appointment needed; choice shopping list on the LCOC website. Hours can change around holidays, so call the office if unsure.

Office

Wellfleet

Cost

Free

How to start

Just come during pantry hours; questions to the LCOC office (508) 240-0694 or lcoc@lcoutreach.org

Hours

Mon 3–6pm; Wed 3–6pm; Thu 10am–noon

Address

Our Lady of Lourdes parking area, 2282 Route 6 (corner of Lieutenant Island Rd), Wellfleet, MA 02667

24/7 line to report suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of an elder Reports can be made 24 hours a day, by phone or online. The state now calls this Adult Protective Services.

Credentials

Free public/nonprofit resource

Cost

Free

How to start

Call (800) 922-2275 any time, or report online (online reports need your name; phone reports can be anonymous)

Who qualifies

Adults 60+ living in the community in Massachusetts (not in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities)

Hours

24/7 by phone

For older adults

Local Adult Protective Services reviews each report, usually the same day, and any help plan is made with the older person's consent.

Report scams targeting seniors; case managers assist with reporting & resources

Credentials

Free public/nonprofit resource

Cost

Free

How to start

Call 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) during hotline hours

Who qualifies

Anyone reporting fraud against a person 60 or older

Hours

Mon–Fri 10–6 Eastern

Languages

Spanish and other languages

For older adults

A case manager stays your contact and walks you through reporting to federal, state and local agencies.

Free, unbiased Medicare counseling; also booked through any Council on Aging

Credentials

Free public/nonprofit resource

Cost

Free

How to start

Call or use the state's 'Find a SHINE Counselor' tool to book a one-on-one session

Who qualifies

Massachusetts residents eligible for Medicare, and their caregivers

For older adults

Trained counselors help you compare Medicare plans and find savings on insurance and prescriptions.

Catholic volunteer charity that helps people in need from Buzzards Bay to Provincetown with food, clothing and emergency money for rent, utilities or medical bills.

There's no central number — call the parish group nearest you (full map at svdpcapecod.com/locations).

Cost

Free

Lower & Outer Cape

Chatham 508-237-7983 · West Harwich 508-432-2898 x4 · Brewster 508-385-7582 · Orleans 508-255-8080 · Wellfleet 508-349-2055 · Provincetown 508-487-0095 x4

Mid & Upper Cape

Hyannis 508-775-3073 · South Yarmouth 508-398-6623 · Centerville 508-771-5104 · Osterville 774-602-5719 · East Sandwich 508-833-1555 · Buzzards Bay 774-208-6723 · Pocasset 508-563-5317 · East Falmouth 508-563-7775

Who qualifies

Anyone in need — job loss, illness, or at risk of losing their home

How to start

Call your nearest parish group; a volunteer will arrange a home visit

A large choice food pantry where anyone in need can shop for groceries and clothing, with no town limits.

Choice pantry: you pick your own food. Households can come every 10 days. Bring photo ID for each household member and proof of address on your first visit; volunteers can help if you lack papers. Income guide is USDA poverty guidelines. Free blood pressure and sugar checks Tuesdays 9:30–11:30. Volunteers help with fuel assistance applications by appointment. Closes when Monomoy schools close for weather. Seniors in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans and Provincetown can also get a monthly mobile pantry through their Council on Aging.

Office

Harwich

Cost

Free

How to start

Visit during shopping hours with ID and proof of address. New clients register Tue–Thu only (not Saturdays)

Hours

Shopping: Tue 10am–3:30pm, Wed 10am–noon, Thu 10am–7pm, Sat 9am–noon (closes 15 min early). Office Mon–Thu 8:30–5, Fri 8:30–3

Address

133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA 02645

Small emergency grants for Wellfleet residents — rent, car repairs, prescriptions, medical bills.

Free. No direct phone; apply through the Homeless Prevention Council on 508-255-9667.

Office

Wellfleet

How to start

No direct applications. Ask a partner agency to apply for you, e.g. Wellfleet Adult Community Center 508-349-2800, Lower Cape Outreach Council 508-240-0694, or Homeless Prevention Council 508-255-9667.

Who qualifies

Any Wellfleet resident in need

For older adults

Wellfleet's Adult Community Center (council on aging) can refer you, and help stays confidential.