U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents.

Driven by the needs of residents, the department's services, programs, and initiatives provide support to Cambridge residents across their lifespan and experience, from newborns to children and teens; young adults to older adults; lifelong Cambridge residents to people who immigrate to Cambridge. We also partner closely with community organizations and local employers.

DHSP focuses on equitably serving Cambridge’s diverse community and increasing access to programs and services, particularly for low-income individuals and families and residents from historically marginalized communities. 

Cambridge Office of Early Childhood

a classroom of preschoolers raise their hand

The mission of the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is to connect the city’s early childhood ecosystem and align early childhood services and information. OEC also advocates for and advances the needs of all young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce. Through the Cambridge Preschool Program and other initiatives, OEC strives to ensure that every child and family in Cambridge has access to high quality early care and education experiences so that all children enter school ready to thrive.    

The Office of Early Childhood is a joint office of the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs and Cambridge Public Schools. 

View OEC's website

Coming Up

  • Spanish Class for Daily Life

    Learning Spanish can be a rewarding and joyous journey! This class is about building connections, nurturing curiosity, and celebrating the lifelong adventure of learning together.

  • Strong and Stretched for Older Adults

    This is a low impact, easy to follow, 60-min seated class. This class is appropriate for adults of all fitness levels and participants can go at their own pace.

  • Spanish Class for Daily Life

    Learning Spanish can be a rewarding and joyous journey! This class is about building connections, nurturing curiosity, and celebrating the lifelong adventure of learning together.

  • Strong and Stretched for Older Adults

    This is a low impact, easy to follow, 60-min seated class. This class is appropriate for adults of all fitness levels and participants can go at their own pace.

  • Tech Help for Older Adults

    Staff will be available to answer common questions about your wireless devices, laptops, and applications such as Zoom and Facebook.

  • Zumba Gold

    This is a low impact, easy to follow, 45-minute Latin-inspired dance class. This class is appropriate for adults of all fitness levels and participants can go at their own pace.

  • Day Trip to Rockport (Full - Wait List Only)

    Enjoy a day exploring with your friends at Rockport.

  • Older Adult Spanish for Beginners

    Spanish for Beginners class will focus on basic vocabulary, greetings, and phrases for everyday interactions.

  • Older Adult Book Group

    The Razor’s Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham

  • Older Adult Quilting Workshop

    Join us for a workshop to make a small quilted potholder or trivet. Using the ‘assembly line” quilting method, you will plan, cut, and sew a quilt using our sewing machines.

  • Spanish Class for Daily Life

    Learning Spanish can be a rewarding and joyous journey! This class is about building connections, nurturing curiosity, and celebrating the lifelong adventure of learning together.

  • Strong and Stretched for Older Adults

    This is a low impact, easy to follow, 60-min seated class. This class is appropriate for adults of all fitness levels and participants can go at their own pace.

  • Tech Help for Older Adults

    Staff will be available to answer common questions about your wireless devices, laptops, and applications such as Zoom and Facebook.

Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here