Student Life

Thrive Center

Are you dealing with homelessness or legal issues? Are you struggling with food insecurity? Do you think you qualify for SNAP or MassHealth benefits? Need help balancing your budget? Have questions about managing your credit? 

The Thrive Center will help you create a plan that will get 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
  • SNAP (food assistance) and MassHealth applications
  • Assistance applying to the President's Student Emergency Fund
  • Financial coaching is provided via workshops and trainings that are facilitated by campus and community partners.
  • Credit Repair
  • Referrals to the HCC Career Closet, housing, legal aid, and free tax prep
  • And more!
  • Visit the Thrive Center in KC 201 

Schedule an appointment with Ben
Students can schedule time with Ben Ostiguy, Thrive Center Coordinator, using this link. The Thrive Center is located in KC 201. 

Ben Ostiguy

Thrive Student Resource Center Coordinator 
KC 201
413.552.2349 (Tel)
bostiguy@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.