Did You Know?

ABCD served over 85,000 clients in 2011 through an array of programs that helped them to access work, school, and the benefits they need to stabilize their families and move towards self-sufficiency.

Our Clients

ABCD serves Boston's low-income individual and families through a network of Neighborhood Service Centers, Area Planning and Action Councils, Head Start sites, and affiliates in every neighborhood. Basic demographic data shows that in FY 2011:

• 75% of our clients were female; 36% of these were single mothers
• 35% of clients were between 24 and 44 years old
• 36% were Black
• 27% were Hispanic
• 15% were Asian
• 56% lived at 100-percent of Federal Poverty Level or below, and more than 6,000 clients reported zero income
• 72% of clients had a high school diploma or less, and 32% had less than a high school education
• 13% of clients were disabled

Our Reach

In FY 2011 ABCD reached thousands of low-income residents in Greater Boston through a wide variety of services and programs. This included:

• Neighborhood “Place-Based” Initiatives: Reached 18,358 households.

• Energy Assistance: Kept the heat on for 18,266 households with LIHEAP assistance, and helped 1,518 lower their energy bills with weatherization services and heating system upgrades.

• Housing and Homelessness Prevention Services: Helped 126 families facing foreclosure, provided housing assistance and stabilization services to 1,880, supported 60 with emergency rent or mortgage assistance, and helped 502 obtain or maintain housing.

• ABCD helps nourish individuals and families: Reached 3,097 families through emergency food pantries, and helped 213 obtain Food Stamp benefits. Distributed 479,269 pounds of food.

• Health Services: Reached 28,471 individuals with disease prevention and reproductive health care. Helped 279 obtain health insurance.

• Education and Career Development for Adults: Reached 289 adults with ABE/GED services and 644 with ESOL courses. Graduated 150 students with Associates Degrees or certificates. Provided 959 with job assistance, and helped 263 obtain jobs.

• Immigration Services: Provided 811 with immigration services, including applying for and obtaining U.S. citizenship and Green Cards, VAWA, Family Petitions, and other related services.

• Youth Programs: Educated 242 youth in alternative high schools and connected 1,190 with summer and year-round youth employment.

• Elder Services: Helped 726 seniors maintain independent lives through case management and other services, assisted 600 seniors with Medicare counseling sessions and provided 177 with prescription pick-up or hospital advocacy services. Served 7,280 hot meals and snacks to seniors, 372 participated in exercise and wellness classes, and 180 benefited from fall prevention classes.

• Early Childhood Education and Care: Reached 2,502 pre-schoolers, infants, and toddlers with Head Start, and 162 children through other high-quality child care services. Helped 6,484 families access child care through referral and voucher programs.

• Asset Development: Helped 4,127 households with free tax assistance, returning $6,679,273 to poor communities in refunds and Earned Income Tax Credit. Provided 105 with comprehensive financial literacy education and 177 with credit counseling.