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Household Goods & Services
Low-income, elderly, and/or disabled Worcester residents can get free or low-cost household goods and services to help them furnish their homes, repair their houses, pay for pet medical care, remove snow from their sidewalks, or meet other household needs.
NOTE: Glossary words are highlighted. Click on any glossary word to see its definition.
Household furnishings
Worcester residents who need furniture and other household items can get free or low-cost household goods from these organizations:
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Donations Clearinghouse:
The Donations Clearinghouse, run by the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA), provides donated furniture and other household items, free of charge, to people who are:
- moving out of shelter or transitional housing into permanent housing
- fleeing domestic violence
- victims of fire or flood
- DCF family reunification cases
- elders at risk
You must have a signed referral form from your caseworker to be eligible. Once you have a referral, you should call the Donations Clearinghouse to check your eligibility and make an appointment to visit the warehouse. You must bring the referral form with you.
Donations Clearinghouse
7-11 Bellevue Street
Worcester, MA 01609 Map and directions
Telephone: 508-791-7265, ext. 22 or 27
Web site: Donations Clearinghouse
Referral form: Caseworker referral for Donations Clearinghouse (.doc file)
Note: The Donations Clearinghouse does not deliver your furniture. If you do not have a way to get your furniture home, Donations Clearinghouse may be able to set up a delivery for you for a fee.
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Worcester thrift stores:
Thrift stores sell a variety of donated household items, including furniture, bedding, kitchen items, lamps, and other goods. Prices are reasonable.
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Free items - Internet postings:
People with items they want to give away often use free online services to post their ads. Anyone can use these services to get items they need free of charge. You should always be careful when you reply to an online posting. If an item is advertised as free, do not pay any money or give out any financial information.
- Craigslist: Worcester and Central Massachusetts Free Stuff
Craigslist is a free web site that allows users to post listings about jobs, apartments, goods and services, local events, and more. Craigslist also has a "free" section for items that people want to give away.
- Worcester MA Freecycle
Freecycle is an online community of people who want to reduce waste, keep usable items out of landfills, and give and get things for free. You must become a member of Freecycle (for free) to take part. Everything on Freecycle is free. You can offer things for free, or ask for things for free.
Home repairs
Worcester senior homeowners can get help with home repairs from the Elder Home Repair program of the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA). To qualify, homeowners must:
- be 60 years of age or older
- live in the house that needs repair
- need home repairs to correct unsafe housing
Elder Home Repair will make basic repairs, such as fixing stairs, doors, and ceilings, or minor plumbing and electrical problems. In most cases, homeowners must provide or pay for materials. Labor is free, but contributions are welcome.
To apply, call the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA) at 508-755-1105. Repairs are usually scheduled on a first come, first served basis, unless there is an emergency. For more information, see Elder Home Repair.
Pet care
Cat and dog owners who cannot afford medical care for their pets can get help from the Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare (SCFAW). SCFAW provides help in these ways:
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Spaying and neutering: SCFAW has "Quick Fix" spay/neuter clinics for pet cats, and a spay/neuter voucher program for dogs and stray/feral cats. Vaccinations are also provided if needed.
Fees are based on income. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Pet owners who receive public assistance such as food stamps, MassHealth, SSI, TAFDC, rental assistance, fuel assistance, WIC, or unemployment are automatically income eligible. Pet owners must fill out an application and provide proof of public assistance or proof of income.
See Spay/Neuter Services for more information.
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Medical care for seriously ill or injured pets: Scratch's Patch-Up Fund (SPUF) helps pet owners whose dogs or cats are facing a medical crisis and who do not have the money to pay for the care their pets need. Pet owners must meet income limits and other requirements. Approval may take up to two weeks, so SPUF cannot usually help in emergency situations.
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Support for caregivers of homeless or feral cats: SCFAW provides traps, guidance, and financial assistance for the spaying/neutering of homeless or feral cats.
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General support: SCFAW gives referrals and guidance to pet owners who must surrender their pets, or who need advice about caring for their pets.
To apply for financial help for spaying/neutering or SPUF medical care, you must fill out a Request for Pet Services. You can fill out the application and submit it online, or you can print out a copy of the application and mail it in:
For questions or support, call the Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare hotline at 978-779-8287, or e-mail SCFAW at .
For more information, visit the Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare web site.
Snow shoveling
Worcester requires property owners to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within 10 hours after it stops snowing. The cleared path must be at least 4 feet wide. Residents who don't shovel their walks currently face a $75 per day fine.
If you are not able to shovel your own walks, you can get help from:
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Worcester Snow Shoveling - Division of Elder Affairs:
Worcester residents, age 60 or older, who need help shoveling their walks and entranceways can get assistance from the city's Elder Affairs Division. Priority is given to residents with an urgent need for snow removal, such as medical appointments, access for caregivers, or citations for violating the city's snow removal ordinance.
Elder Affairs works with agencies such as the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance to provide snow removal services. To apply, call:
In some cases, you may be asked to pay a small fee for services. The Elder Home Maintenance program also provides other maintenance services such as mowing the lawn and cleaning rain gutters.
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Community organizations:
Worcester homeowners can get a referral for snow removal by calling the Worcester Department of Public Works (DPW) at 508-929-1300. Elderly homeowners and homeowners with disabilities can get free services. Other homeowners may have to pay a fee or donation.
Wheelchair ramps
Worcester residents with disabilities who need a wheelchair ramp to make their homes accessible may be able to get help from the Handicap Ramp Program:
- The Handicap Ramp Program is a community service partnership between local labor unions, such as the Worcester Firefighters "Ramp Gang" and Carpenters Local 107, and the United Way of Central Massachusetts.
Labor union workers donate their time and supplies to build handicap ramps for homebound residents of Worcester and other Central Massachusetts communities. The homeowners do not have to pay anything for the ramps. Ramps can be built throughout the year.
To apply, call the AFL/CIO Community Services Handicap Ramp Program at 508-757-5632.
If you cannot get a free wheelchair ramp, you may be able to get a loan to pay for the ramp:
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The Home Modification Loan Program gives loans to elders and people with disabilities to modify their homes so they can live independently.
Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a deferred payment loan that does not have to be repaid until you sell your house, or an amortized low interest loan. For income guidelines, see HMLP: Who Is Eligible?.
You can get an application and instructions on the HMLP web site HMLP: How Do I Apply?. For more information, see Home Modification Loan Program.
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