Welcome to Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team.
We are a grassroots organization led by individuals with lived experience and deep connections to the Cambridge, MA community. We exist to model a world where people in crisis are met with care, compassion, and transformative accountability—rather than punishment.
At Cambridge HEART, we believe in a future where communities are interconnected through practices of care, healing, self-determination, and transformative accountability. Our goal is to build a society that is free from carceral systems, where the dignity of every individual is respected.
The HEART Model
The HEART model is the result of community voices coming together in response to the 2020 uprisings to come up with a solution that truly supports the most vulnerable and underserved in our communities. It is a model born from the experiences and hopes of our neighbors and is designed to address the gaps left by traditional systems, offering an alternative rooted in care, not control.
Learn more about the HEART Model by reading the HEART Report.
Our Commitment
We understand that transformative change takes time, and the journey to achieving our goals will be gradual. We remain committed to providing support through a non-judgmental lens, honoring people's self determination, and working without involving carceral systems as we continue to build towards our goal.
Our Current Initiatives
HEART Line
Our HEART Line offers a confidential space for individuals in crisis to connect with one of our trained peer-support responders. Available every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM, we are here to listen and provide over the phone support.
Community Cohesion
We believe that fostering strong relationships is key to building local capacity and breaking cycles of harm. By creating spaces in which new and existing connections within Cambridge can be nurtured amongst neighbors, we can create a foundation for promoting safety, healing, and mutual support.
Past events have included weekly gatherings for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, community self-defense workshops, and mutual aid efforts done in collaboration with local organizations.
Mobile Crisis (Coming Soon)
We are excited to launch our Mobile Crisis Response in the near future. In this stage of response work, our team will be able to provide immediate in person support for individuals in crisis without involving carceral systems. Our team is currently hard at work preparing for the launch.
Join Us
Whether you have lived experience, are a community advocate, or believe in a compassionate approach to public safety, there’s a place for you within the HEART ecosystem!
Join us as we continue on our journey towards creating a society that is free from carceral systems.