CASPAR Inc is a community-based non profit organization founded in 1970 to provide comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment to individuals of all ages whose lives are affected by substance use disorders and instill hope that recovery and an end to homelessness are not only possible but attainable..

Dedicated to underserved populations, including individuals who are elderly, indigent, and homeless, CASPAR has a twofold mission: to reduce the harm associated with substance use and to contribute to a healthier community by empowering people to improve the quality of their lives. 

Today CASPAR has become the largest provider of services to homeless individuals in the Cambridge and Somerville communities. With over 80 employees and a budget of $4,000,000 in local, state and federal funding, CASPAR serves almost 5,000 men, women, and children every year.

CASPAR's committment to the health of the community extends to stabilizing alcoholic families, reunifying families which have been disrupted by untreated substance use, facilitating access to substance abuse treatment for underserved and marginalized populations, and ending homelessness.

CASPAR is proud of its innovative network of client-centered services which help those affected by substance use to improve their lives, and is widely valued for its significant contributions to the community and to the field.

CASPAR has adopted a set of core values which underlie the agency’s philosophy of client care:

• Each human being should be treated with dignity and respect
  
  
• Ensuring client safety is a top priority in client care
  
  
• Keeping hope alive today makes recovery possible in the future
  
  
• Services should build on the strengths of individuals
  
  
• Prevention, risk assessment, and treatment services are most effective when provided as early as possible
  
  
• The nature and course of substance use disorders underscore the need for ongoing supportive services