Created in 1980, the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) provides a breadth of services that is unique in the Commonwealth, reflecting the strong and ongoing support of the City Administration, the City Council, and ultimately, the residents of Cambridge. Driven by the needs of residents, the Department's extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged kids to homeless parents, from non-profit organizations to local employers. Residents participate in the work of the Department at all levels: as consumers of services, as employees, as members of the Human Services Commission and the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, as volunteers and as members of neighborhood councils, task forces, and committees.

Among the services DHSP provides directly to the community are:

• Neighborhood based educational and enrichment programs for children and adults
• Recreation programs for children and adults
• Services to and programs for seniors
• Youth programs
• Fuel assistance
• Services for persons with disabilities
• Substance abuse prevention programs
• Job preparation and matching
• Classes for adult basic education, literacy, and English for Speakers of Other Languages
• Housing search and casework services to homeless and at-risk individuals and families
• Haitian social services
• Pre-school and after-school childcare and family support programs.

In addition, the Department brings non-profit and community-based organizations together for planning, coordination, and technical assistance, funding many of these agencies through grants.