Address Confidentiality Program - Western Region Resources
The New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT)
As the domestic violence and rape crisis center of Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, NELCWIT offers a variety of services for individuals and their family members whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. We offer services to people of all genders, sexual orientations and abilities. Most of NELCWIT’s services are free of charge, do not require health insurance or proof of citizenship, and are available immediately in Spanish and English, with other languages offered through an interpretation service.
- Counseling & Advocacy
- Crisis Intervention
- Economic Empowerment
- Prevention & Outreach
- Supervised Visitation Program
Alianza (formerly Womanshelter/Compañeras)
Services are confidential and offered at no cost to victims.
- 24 Hour hotline 1-877-536-1628
- Emergency shelter
- Individual Counseling
- Support groups in English/Spanish
- Medical, financial & housing advocacy
- In-court legal advocates
- Comprehensive teen services
- Child advocacy & programming
- Community Education
- Information and referrals
- Refugee & Immigrant Services
Elizabeth Freeman Center
Free, confidentialservices available in any language.
- 24/7 Hotline – a toll-free hotline, (866) 401-2425, that you can call anytime of the day or night for support, counseling, advocacy, shelter, or just to talk.
- Response to hospitals or police stations – counselors available 24/7 to help those who need to flee violence. We can meet you at hospitals or police stations following an attack to provide help and support.
- Emergency services – including shelter, food, transportation and safe phones, to help you get and stay safe.
- Emergency shelter – we have a secure, home-like shelter, and if our shelter is full, we will find you emergency shelter until we can develop an appropriate plan.
- Pet foster care – a “SafePet” program with Berkshire Humane Society to provide foster care for pets if violence has interrupted your care of them and they need safety.
- Counseling – free and confidential counseling in individual and group settings to help you heal from harm of violence, and to understand that it is not your fault and you are not alone.
- Safety planning – to help you be safer or to help you get to safety.
- Advocacy – to help you get services you need, including income support and medical care, education and training, legal help, help with your bills, housing that is safe and affordable, and protections so you can keep your job or stay in school.
- Court advocates – staff in the Probate Court and in the district courts in North Adams and Great Barrington to help with restraining orders and to talk about your situation and what can help.
- Counselors who work specifically with immigrants – we have counselors with special training and experience in immigration issues.
- LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) services – including LGBTQ counselors and LGBTQ support groups. Visit www.elizabethfreemancenter.org/rainbow for more info.
- Supervised visitation program – with Berkshire County Sheriff’s Deputies, to keep children and survivors safe during visitation when there is a history of family violence.
We have offices in North Adams, Great Barrington and Pittsfield. We have staff in the Pittsfield Police Department, the Adams Police Department, and Berkshire County Kids’ Place. We have staff that go to other shelters. We can meet people in safe locations almost anywhere in Berkshire County.
www.elizabethfreemancenter.org
Safe Passage
Support and Advocacy
- Individual and group counseling
- Advocacy about housing, welfare, medical, and educational issues
- Assistance developing personal safety plans
- Advocacy and support for children who have witnessed domestic violence
- Specialized services and support for individuals with disabilities
- Specialized services for immigrants
- Advocacy for abuse victims after police calls
- Legal assistance with divorce, child custody, and other probate and family issues
- 24-hour, confidential, toll-free hotline for crisis intervention and emotional support
- Shelter, food, clothing, and counseling
- Assistance finding permanent housing, benefits, work and support services
- Follow-up counseling and advocacy for former shelter guests
YWCA Western Massachusetts
For over 145 years, the YWCA has been dedicated to providing services to the women of Western Massachusetts. We began by providing boarding houses for young working women. Today, service is still the heart of what we do.
Today's YWCA delivers groundbreaking programs offering shelter, support, and self sufficiency for the women and girls in our community. From safe places for battered women and their children to job training for young adults, the YWCA responds with commitment and thoroughness.
It's a pledge we made a long time ago: Until women have what they need, we'll remain an innovative and reliable source of quality services.
- Residential Programs
- Survivor Outreach and Advocacy Services
- Parent and Youth Support Programs
- Workforce Development
Center for Women & Community
We are proud to offer a variety of free services and programs to the UMass Amherst, Five College and Hampshire County communities including:
Information & Referral Services
We offer many services but if we don't offer the exact service you need, we can help you find who does. You can search our online database, call us, or come visit the center and one of our trained staff members will assist you in locating the Hampshire County resources you need. Our free services are open to anyone, confidential, and available in English and Spanish.
Community Education Services
We offer a variety of workshops and trainings on sexual violence prevention, healthy relationships, relationship violence, bystander intervention and related topics. We also host educational events, promote violence prevention related campaigns, and present related displays to throughout the Five Colleges.
General Counseling Services
We provide an important alternative to women seeking counseling services. Many women don't define issues they are dealing with as mental health issues and seek counseling from a perspective that recognizes the particular stresses they experience as women while building on their strengths. When appropriate, we make referrals to community agencies and therapists in private practice. Feel free to contact us for referrals.
Hampshire County Rape Crisis Services
We also provide confidential crisis services for survivors of all gender expressions in the Hampshire County and Five College Community (including Specialized Services for Teens). We support survivors of rape; sexual assault; childhood sexual abuse; stalking; domestic violence; emotional, psychological and verbal abuse. Additionally, we are available to support survivors’ friends, family members, and significant others. Rape Crisis Services are available 24 hours, 7 days/week to provide support, information, crisis intervention, and medical and legal advocacy. Learn more about our Crisis Services.