Human Services
Our cabinet promotes and ensures the well-being of Boston residents, especially those with the greatest needs.
The mission of the Human Services Cabinet is to provide equitable access to high quality services, resources, and opportunities so that every Boston resident - especially those with the greatest needs - has what they need to thrive. In pursuit of this mission, the departments in the Human Services Cabinet meet residents where they are - in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities - to break down barriers to critical resources.
To truly thrive, every Boston resident needs access to good jobs, affordable housing, healthy food, safe places to exercise and be expressive, and opportunities to come together with others in their community. Together, the Human Services cabinet will expand our programming, invest in our community spaces, and drive policies that increase opportunity so all Boston residents can thrive.
GRANTS
GrantsThe Mayor’s Office of Human Services is now accepting applications for the FY25 Youth Development Fund (YDF) Grant Program. Grants will be awarded up to $30,000 per organization and are intended to increase the number of high-quality out-of-school programming opportunities for youth throughout the city, focusing on sports, arts education, and growing a green generation. The program is funded by the City of Boston's Operating Budget.
The Youth Development Fund is divided into two tiers: Tier One, Emerging Youth Development Organizations, which must have an organizational budget below $300,000; successful applications in this category will receive awards of up to $10,000. The second tier, Established Youth Development Organizations, requires applicants to have organizational budgets between $300,001 and $5 million, and successful applicants in this tier will receive awards of up to $30,000. To learn more and apply, please click the button below!
This funding opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscal sponsors of local providers who have been in operation for the past two years, support youth ages 8-18 to participate in athletic programming, and are registered in City of Boston Youth Sports Hub.
This effort is to support organizations that are community-based sports organizations with a mostly volunteer staff (more than 50%). Grant recipients will receive funding for up to $5,000 to support increasing access to sports opportunities for Boston youth. To learn more and apply, please click the button below!
Initiatives
Adaptive Swim Project
Making Waves Together: Swim Programs Designed for Every Ability!
BCYF Creates
BCYF Creates is a partnership between Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Mayor’s Office of Arts + Culture and the Mayor’s Office of Human Services aimed at bringing high quality arts instruction to BCYF centers across the city.
Charlestown Youth Gaming Study
Studying the impact of the Encore Casino on youth in Charlestown.
Let's Play Boston
The central hub for everything Youth Sports in Boston. Our mission is to bring the city together through sports.
Swim Safe
Swim Safe builds off the Mayor’s commitment to ensure all Boston kids learn to swim and can safely enjoy our City’s coastline and pools.
Youth Development Fund
The goal of this grant is to increase the variety of free youth programming in the City and provide a positive outlet for youth outside school hours.
CABINET WIDE CALENDAR
Community Aid Resources
The Community Aid Resource Directory is made to connect you with essential resources related to food, housing, utilities, transportation, health services, employment, education, childcare, and more!
OHS in the News
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