Thrive Center
The Thrive Center is Holyoke Community College's basic necessities resource center, providing direct resources, referrals, and support related to food/nutrition, housing, social benefits, and personal finances.
The Thrive Center is here to help you create a plan that brings you closer to achieving your goals and building a more stable future.
What We Do
- Access to the HCC Food Pantry and Grab-and-Go options
- Administer a range of housing support resources, including:
- Assisting students with applying for housing at American International College and Elms College. Interested in living at one of our affiliated campuses? Complete our HCC Affiliated Housing Interest Form and we will be in touch.
- Qualifying students to apply for affordable housing vouchers through the Holyoke Housing Authority.
- Administering free housing resources for qualified homeless youth (18–24 years old).
- Assisting students who are applying for RAFT assistance through Wayfinders.
- Making referrals to other community resources.
- Assisting students with applying for housing at American International College and Elms College. Interested in living at one of our affiliated campuses? Complete our HCC Affiliated Housing Interest Form and we will be in touch.
- Assistance with SNAP (food assistance) and MassHealth applications
- Support applying to the President's Student Emergency Fund
- Financial coaching through workshops and trainings facilitated by campus and community partners
- Referrals to the HCC Career Closet, housing support, legal aid, and free tax preparation
- And more!
Visit the Thrive Center
- Location: Kittredge Center (KC) 201
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Contact the Thrive Center Team
Main Office
KC 201
413.552.2783
thrive@hcc.edu
Ben Ostiguy
Senior Special Program Coordinator
KC 201
413.552.2349
bostiguy@hcc.edu
Elizabeth Rivera
Program Assistant (Housing & Student Support)
KC 201
413.552.2784
erivera@hcc.edu
Elizabeth Eastman
Food Pantry Manager
KC 203
413.552.2785
eeastman@hcc.edu
"Maybe I'm not alone"
Single parent Bianca Thomas's credit issues were preventing her from getting stable housing. Thrive helped her repair her credit and find a safe, permanent place to live.
"I didn't want to be a burden"
Joshua Haining is living with his aunt and uncle, and contributes to the household by using SNAP benefits to buy the family's groceries.
"They helped me breathe again"
After falling behind on medical bills, Gia Mendez was facing eviction. Thrive connected her with a program that covered her arrears, and four additional months of rent.
"It's hard to focus when you're hungry"
Full-time student Rae utilizes Thrive's food pantry to bridge the gap between food stamps running out and the next payday.
"I was falling through the cracks"
Non-traditional student Jeff Luckern needed a place to live following incarceration. Learn how Thrive helped him secure housing and an internship in his field of study.
"It's not that you can't learn"
Hunger was making it hard for Frances to focus on her schoolwork. Thanks to food stamps and the HCC food pantry (located in Thrive), she was able to improve her grades.
"It's a huge weight off my shoulders"
Rodrigo Valdiviezo Salazr was couch-hopping until Thrive found him a stable apartment, where he'll live until he transfers to a four-year college in pursuit of his bachelors and then masters degree.
-
"Maybe I'm not alone"
Single parent Bianca Thomas's credit issues were preventing her from getting stable housing. Thrive helped her repair her credit and find a safe, permanent place to live.
-
"I didn't want to be a burden"
Joshua Haining is living with his aunt and uncle, and contributes to the household by using SNAP benefits to buy the family's groceries.
-
"They helped me breathe again"
After falling behind on medical bills, Gia Mendez was facing eviction. Thrive connected her with a program that covered her arrears, and four additional months of rent.
-
"It's hard to focus when you're hungry"
Full-time student Rae utilizes Thrive's food pantry to bridge the gap between food stamps running out and the next payday.
-
"I was falling through the cracks"
Non-traditional student Jeff Luckern needed a place to live following incarceration. Learn how Thrive helped him secure housing and an internship in his field of study.
-
"It's not that you can't learn"
Hunger was making it hard for Frances to focus on her schoolwork. Thanks to food stamps and the HCC food pantry (located in Thrive), she was able to improve her grades.
-
"It's a huge weight off my shoulders"
Rodrigo Valdiviezo Salazr was couch-hopping until Thrive found him a stable apartment, where he'll live until he transfers to a four-year college in pursuit of his bachelors and then masters degree.
