Northampton, MA is situated on the banks of the Connecticut River in the Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts. Residents have plenty to do in and around the city, from experiencing the vibrant arts and music scene, hiking Mt. Tom State Reservation, or riding bikes along local bike paths.

This small city has deep roots in social justice, dating all the way back to 1842 when abolitionists declared Northampton a community where “the rights of all people should be equal without distinction of sex, color or condition, sect or religion.”

As a result of its progressive nature, Northampton has worked to make local, high quality food accessible by offering five weekly farmer’s markets, three grocery co-ops, an upswing of community supported agriculture, and several restaurants dedicated to using locally-sourced ingredients, offering a wide variety of international cuisines.

This youthful area is home to the “Five Colleges”: Smith College, Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke College, the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and Hampshire College; as well as three community colleges. Many clients have enrolled in, or audited, classes at one of these schools. The city also provides a robust local transportation system that takes residents around the city as well as to 24 surrounding communities in the Pioneer Valley.