HACbeat, February 2023

New Governor Focused on Housing and Hunger

Governor-elect Maura Healey paid a visit to Cape Cod in January, preparing meals for hungry residents and fielding questions on both food insecurity and the housing crisis.

“We need to do everything that we can to support housing and housing production. You’re going to hear us talk a lot about it,” she said, referring to her new administration

Healey made these comments during a visit with Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll to the Family Table Collaborative in South Yarmouth to pitch in during a food distribution day. The visit was part of a state-wide tour before their inauguration Jan. 5. Along with dozens of other volunteers, Healey and Driscoll helped serve chicken, rice and veggies into hundreds of to-go containers destined for places like Angel House, a Housing Assistance family shelter that received 40 meals prepared that day

“We wanted to make a point of showing the kind of administration we’re going to be,” Healey said. “We're going to be an administration that cares about every single region of the state and that includes the Cape and Islands.”

continued on page 6

Housing Assistance Welcomes Bogdanovich to the Board

Bill Bogdanovich, who became Housing Assistance board chairman in December, will continue a legacy of support and vision carried out by previous board chairs.

In this issue

COVER STORY

New Governor Focused on Housing and Hunger

New Board Chair Brings

‘Informed Passion’ to Role

PAGE 2

Editorial by Alisa Magnotta

PAGE 3

Advocacy Efforts Move Forward Following HPCC Summit with Regional Strategy Session

PAGE 4

Town Huddles Convene to Advance HPCC Goals on the Local Level

PAGE 5

Community Holiday Donations Deliver Joy

PAGE 7

Year-End Donations Get Doubled Thanks to a Generous Donor

PAGE 8

Telethon Raises Over $72,000 With Help from Key Supporters

PAGE 9

Housing Assistance Celebrates Opening of Orleans Office

PAGE 10

42-Unit Bourne Housing Project Gets State Funding

PAGE 11

New Board Chair Brings ‘Informed Passion’ to Role

The new chair of the Housing Assistance board of directors has seen firsthand the effects of Cape Cod’s housing crisis Why? Because it’s affecting his business

Brewster resident Bill Bogdanovich is president and CEO of Broad Reach Healthcare, a company of 300 employees that offers post-acute and community-based healthcare. About five years ago, managers at Broad Reach noticed that a housing-triggered life crisis was causing some staff members to move off-Cape.

“Housing has been a growing challenge for those at the beginning of their career paths,” he said “Now it’s a challenge for people in professional positions, such as social workers, nurses and therapists.”

Broad Reach looked into opportunities for year-round properties that could be used as rentals.

“We [now] have a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a house that is used in a shared way,” he said “We’re able to offer housing to about 26 of our employees, and it’s made a huge difference for us It’s helped us keep people who would otherwise be gone ”

Throughout this time, Bogdanovich stayed in touch with Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. The two met when she was executive director at Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod & the Islands and he was on the board.

"She’s been a great resource as I contemplated my own work with the challenges of workforce housing,” he said. “When she mentioned the opportunity to serve on the Housing Assistance board, I couldn’t say no ”

Bogdanovich said he views his chairman of the board role as supporting and strengthening the work Housing Assistance does to stabilize, educate and empower some of the region’s most vulnerable people.

“As somebody who’s lived on the Cape for 30-plus years, I’d like to think that my presence can bring an informed passion to what Housing Assistance does going forward and help motivate others to be part of the solution,” he said.

Magnotta said Bogdanovich, who became Housing Assistance board chairman in December, will continue a legacy of support and vision carried out by previous board chairs

“We are grateful for the work of Ray Tamasi, who served as interim chair after the passing of Peter Muise last July,” said Magnotta. “I know from my past work with Bill that he will bring his unique energy and insight to his new role on the Housing Assistance board.”

Housing has been a growing challenge for those at the beginning of their career paths. Now it’s a challenge for people in professional positions, such as social workers, nurses and therapists.

– BILL BOGDANOVICH

A Year of Accomplishments, With More Hard Work Ahead

EDITORIAL BY ALISA MAGNOTTA

2023 is already underway and while we are excited about the year ahead, the new year is also a time to reflect on what we accomplished in the last 12 months with help from our partners and supporters In addition to helping more than 6,200 people who needed housing services last year, we also launched several innovative programs and initiatives to help our workforce remain living and working on Cape Cod.

In May, we launched the Grow Smart Cape Cod project in partnership with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) This mapping tool allows town officials, residents, and developers to plan housing projects while also protecting natural resources

In June, we launched the THRIVE (Tools to Help Residents in a Vulnerable Economy) program to help childcare providers and those who work with the developmentally disabled bridge the housing affordability gap with rent assistance and counseling to empower them to set, and reach, financial goals

In November, we launched the Housing to Protec Cape Cod (HPCC) coalition to advocate for more affordable and attainable housing for Cape residen We also released a report by the independent res firm, the Concord Group, which found that the Ca losing more than 800 households a year that make $100,000 or less in annual salary.

In December, we opened a new satellite office in Orleans to increase access to our services for resi across the Lower and Outer Cape.

The site has been busy since doors opened to the public. We also continued to add housing opportunities for residents, bringing our total to nearly 600 units across the region, with more in the pipeline That includes Brewster Woods, where construction wrapped up on 30 affordable units that are now available for lease.

Work on these programs and initiatives will continue throughout 2023 and beyond. The Concord Group’s report is sobering; researchers found that when one childcare or disability caregiver leaves the Cape, as many as 10 families lose access to these critical services and the economy suffers These are just two industries hurting from the severe lack of housing stock and diversity on Cape Cod. We see clients from a variety of industries every day who have full-time jobs but cannot find housing or pay exorbitant rents. It makes the map we released with APCC an even more critical tool to find suitable locations for new housing It makes HPCC’s work to id t d t ffi i l h ing u can o visit org.

Alisa Magnotta, CEO

Advocacy Efforts Move Forward With Regional Strategy Session Following HPCC Summit

Some 30 business, government, and nonprofit leaders from around the Cape and Islands gathered in January to discuss regional solutions to the ongoing housing crisis

The sessions were convened as one of the next steps for the Housing to Protect Cape Cod (HPCC) coalition and were facilitated by staff from the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) with funding secured by Cape and Islands State Senator Julian Cyr.

“The housing crisis has reached a fever pitch on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket,” Cyr said in his opening remarks. “Families now need an annual household income of $210,000 to afford the median priced single-family home on Cape Cod, and nearly half of our workforce commutes over the bridge to work here every day. These trends will only worsen without bold and immediate action by every town in the region. The solution is going to take the people who are engaged and who care about this place to make change at the local level, and it’s our job to organize and spur them to action.”

The sessions included a preview of the Cape Cod Commission’s draft regional housing strategy Kristy Senatori, commission executive director, said there are fewer homes for sale, and the average selling price is $600,000, far above what the average Cape resident, who makes about $80,000 annually, can afford

Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta said the Commission’s work, along with a report released last November by the independent research firm the Concord Group provides the data to back up what local service providers have been seeing for a long time.

“Our clients are fully employed, middle-income people who, if their rental is sold, have no place else to go,” she said “We have to have a sense of urgency about this and build a regional plan from the inside out ”

Participants then explored what Magnotta described as the three biggest obstacles to solving the housing crisis: funding, zoning and opposition. They also talked about how the complexity of the housing crisis and the cost to solve it require housing advocates to be unified in their approach to presenting solutions, finding ways to fund them, and dealing with opponents.

“Opposition runs deeper than we’d like to think,” said Bert Talerman, co-president of Cape Cod 5. “A lot of people like housing in theory, but not when it’s next to them.”

James Seymour, executive director of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, said while a lot of work still needs to be done, the regional strategy sessions were a step in the right direction. “We’re finally putting the right people in the room,” he said.

Participants will meet again in February to discuss a list of regional tactics gathered from the sessions to build an action list to address the housing crisis.

Stacie Smith of the Consensus Building Institute facilitated the regional meeting.

Town Huddles Convene to Advance HPCC Goals on the Local Level

The Housing Assistance advocacy team also is organizing on the local level, building on the energy from November’s Housing to Protect Cape Cod (HPCC) summit, which drew over 350 people.

Ann Schiffenhaus, director of community relations and advocacy, said the coalition is working with leaders and residents in towns across the Cape to both advance pro-housing initiatives and increase public awareness and engagement to support housing.

“We're also looking at housing production plans or local comprehensive plans to see what's already in place,” she said. “We’re not going to recreate the wheel, but if the wheel’s missing a spoke, that’s where we come in.”

Part of that work includes convening town huddles, which are strategic meetings of residents interested in changing their town’s housing policies. Each town huddle will focus on how the housing crisis is impacting their community Participants will hear firsthand experiences from local employers, educators and community members in a panel discussion

"We want to drill down to town levels and get people together to discuss what are the best ways to change zoning and get their town to spend more money on housing,” said Scott Lajoie, director of government affairs. “We’re asking the people who know each town’s dynamics to help determine the best strategies. That might be putting articles on the town meeting warrant, or it might be more long term with zoning changes and budget allocations.”

The first town huddles are convening in early February, with more to follow in the spring

Housing Assistance and Leadership Cape Cod (LCC) have also joined forces to train advocates to speak up for affordable and accessible housing. The two organizations will provide a civic engagement educational series specifically geared toward housing advocates. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding in January and will begin work soon to develop the curriculum.

Upcoming Virtual Classes & Workshops at Housing Assistance

Learn more and register at haconcapecod.org.

MONEY MATTERS

Free two-night workshop that will help you set financial goals, make a spending plan and identify ways to create an emergency fund.

March 7 and 9

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER

Overview of the homebuying process. Topics include money management, mortgage loan programs, insurance and more.

March 14 and 18

HOMESAFE

Fulfills the post-purchase education requirements and provides a forum to share experiences with other homeowners.

March 27 and 29

continued from cover

Paula Mallard, Housing Assistance vice president of homeless services, said the gesture was much appreciated at the Hyannis shelter.

“Here’s a big thank you from the families at Angel House,” she said.

The Family Table Collaborative (FTC) distributes prepared meals directly to individuals and families across Cape Cod. Chef and entrepreneur Jeni Wheeler and marketing executive and entrepreneur Harry Henry co-founded FTC as a rapid-response program to help families and seniors struggling with food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But nutritional security on Cape Cod is an ongoing crisis, and the organization has since evolved to include working to end hunger and improve nutritional security by breaking down the barriers of access to prepared meals and providing education on food nutrition and preparation. FTC has prepared and distributed more than 110,000 free meals to Cape Codders since its founding in 2020.

“We greatly appreciate the Family Table Collaborative’s dedication to our community and

their support of our organization,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta, who co-chaired Healey’s Affordable, Abundant Housing Transition Committee. “Food insecurity and lack of housing are problems individuals and families often face at the same time. We’re proud to partner with FTC.”

These two issues were top questions when Healey spoke to the press after preparing meals

“The Cape has its challenges. We know there are dire needs when it comes to housing,” she said. “It's out of control and out of reach for too many. Our businesses are not going to be able to survive unless they can house a workforce.”

Healey will be the first Massachusetts governor to have a cabinet-level Secretary of Housing, and is expected to announce her choice to fill the position soon.

“This is a time we have to come together and do some things that need hard work,” she said. “When it comes to housing, we really need to have people pitch in ”

From left: Family Table Collaborative's Jeni Wheeler with Lt Gov -elect Kim Driscoll; Governor-elect Maura Healey with Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta

Community Holiday Donations Deliver Joy

Dozens of sleeping bags and hundreds of gift bags and gift cards were among the many donations that came into the Housing Assistance office in Hyannis to give comfort and cheer to some of our neediest neighbors during the holiday season

“Our donors stepped up in a way that is truly inspiring,” said Lin Grace Rohr, director of community engagement and donor stewardship at Housing Assistance. “We cannot thank them enough for their kindness and generosity.”

For instance, Kelli Dottridge of Osterville coordinated friends and volunteers from the Cotuit Federated Church, the South Congregational Church in Centerville and the youth group of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich to fill 150 gift bags for teenagers and other individuals experiencing homelessness or living in shelters. The gift bags contain gloves, hats, blankets, snacks, toiletries and books; many of the items were donated by local businesses.

In addition, Dottridge donated 47 sleeping bags, which were distributed by Housing Assistance’s homeless outreach coordinators to people who are living in tents or cars

The Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS® filled more than 50 “welcome home” baskets for Housing Assistance clients moving from a shelter to transitional or permanent housing. The baskets were filled with cookware, cleaning products, bedding, towels and other items people need when starting out in a new home. Carriage House shelter director Gemma Rehm said the cost of basic items like these can add up if someone has to buy them all at once

“I am so fortunate to see the faces of the moms who receive these baskets,” said Rehm. “There are tears of thanks and happiness. It’s the final part of their journey, from shelter to their own home, and to send them off with this gift is beyond special.”

continued on page 8

150 adults and children in shelters and other programs received holiday gifts

clients received holiday gifts

368 homeless individuals received holiday gifts

$13,985

Kelli Dottridge with some of the 150 holiday gift bags she donated to Housing Assistance clients

The Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS® donated more than 50 “welcome home” baskets

Meanwhile, nurse Amy Dempsey organized a toy drive for the Carriage House Shelter. She put together gift bags for the moms at the house, which included fleece blankets, toiletries and gift cards, along with toys for the kids. Rehm said that the mothers were truly overwhelmed and very grateful to receive the gifts for their children and themselves.

For over 20 years, Swift Memorial Church in Sagamore Beach has decorated an Angel Tree for gift giving to families It started as giving to the nine families at Carriage House and over the years has turned into giving for all three shelters and even stabilization families if needed. This holiday season, they contributed more than 100 gifts of toys, clothing and gift cards.

Doug Mackie, owner of Living Water Restoration and Mold Remediation in West Barnstable, donated hundreds of $5 gift cards for McDonald’s, Burger King and Dunkin’ Donuts and $15 for Stop and Shop. The gift cards will enable people who are homeless to sit in a warm, safe space and enjoy a hot meal or beverage without fear of being asked to leave.

“Everyone at Housing Assistance is grateful to all those who donated goods and money so generously this holiday season,” said CEO Alisa Magnotta.

Year-End Donations Get Doubled Thanks to a Generous Donor

Housing Assistance’s year-end giving campaign started with a lofty goal but had help from a major commitment.

An anonymous donor pledged to match all donations to Housing Assistance from December 15 through the end of the year up to a total of $50,000.

Housing Assistance supporters didn’t let the opportunity pass them by. Doug Scalise, pastor of Brewster Baptist Church, kicked off the donations with a check for $13,335 raised at their annual holiday fair.

Other donors were quick to join in, and the goal was met with a few days left in the month. The anonymous donor boosted the match to $75,000 – and supporters exceeded the new match before the new year arrived. The campaign raised $106,175 (plus the $75,000 match) from 241 donors.

“We are so grateful to have donors who understand the critical importance housing has on building strong families, strong neighborhoods, and a strong, vibrant Cape Cod,” said Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance “We can’t thank you enough for your generosity.”

Doug Scalise with Anne Van Vleck and Alisa Magnotta at our Orleans office open house in November.

Telethon for Hope Raises Over $72,000 With Help from Key Supporters

Mid-Cape Home Centers once again showed its support for Housing Assistance in an impressive way during the 19th annual Telethon for Hope.

Mid-Cape’s team – Andrew Loucks, Austin O'Brien, Michelle L. Gemborys, Fallon Rice, Crystal Pieschel, Ronda Ciocca, Leah Fennell and Gordon Correia – was the top fundraising team. In addition, Correia, who works at MidCape as a roofing, siding and skylights specialist, was the top individual fundraiser.

Correia said he was motivated by seeing the effects of the Cape’s housing crisis first-hand. “There is no housing,” he said “I have guys who are coming to work from way off Cape because they can’t afford to live on the Cape ”

Copeland Chevrolet Hyannis and Copeland Subaru Hyannis were also among this year’s generous supporters.

“As a locally owned company, we want to grow from the Cape and employ our fellow Cape Codders,” said owner Todd Copeland. “We hate to hear about young talent leaving the Cape because they can’t find a place they can afford. Our customers love to see the same faces assisting them and with the high cost of living on the Cape, it’s becoming more difficult to retain those employees.”

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Orleans Office

Housing Assistance Celebrates Opening of

Housing Assistance is now serving residents on the Lower Cape and Outer Cape in a more accessible way with a new satellite office at 78 Route 6A, Orleans.

The office is staffed with a full-time intake coordinator who can assess clients’ needs and connect them with the appropriate department, as well as with other housing and community resources around the region. Eligible clients can also schedule in-person meetings with Housing Assistance’s special-service coordinator, and individuals experiencing homelessness can meet inperson with a homeless-outreach coordinator.

The Orleans office also allows Housing Assistance to strengthen its working relationships with the Lower Cape Outreach Council, the Homeless Prevention Council and Outer Cape Health Services.

Intake coordinator Jennifer Ross said the office is already filling a need. “We’ve had quite a few elderly people come in who are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless,” she said. “We’ve also seen a number of women in their sixties or older who just want to rent, but they're having difficulty finding any rentals that are doable.”

The site is averaging about 10 walk-ins a week.

“People see the big sign out front and they get all excited,” Ross said. “A lot of people are very happy because they need to drop off paperwork, and it’s a hike to get to the Hyannis office, so they’ll drop it off here ”

About 50 people attended an open house at the new office in December to celebrate its opening and learn more about the services Housing Assistance offers.

The office, which is next to the former Governor Prence Inn, is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The staff welcomes walk-ins, appointments and phone calls To contact the Housing Assistance Orleans office, call 508-771-5400, ext. 384.

Geof Deering (Orleans fire/rescue chief), Alisa Magnotta (Housing Assistance CEO), Alexis Mathison (Orleans Affordable Housing Trust), Mark Mathison (Orleans select board) and Kevin Galligan (Orleans select board)

42-Unit Bourne Housing Project Gets State Funding

In December, then-Governor Charlie Baker announced $93.4 million in direct funding and $33 million in state and federal housing tax credits to support the development of 790 housing units across 14 projects.

Among the projects is Cape View Way, a new construction project in Bourne, co-sponsored by Housing Assistance and Preservation of Affordable Housing. The Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will support the project, permitted through Chapter 40B, with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds, including funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Cape Cod Consortium also is expected to provide additional local funding for the project

Designed to Passive House energy-efficiency standards, the completed Cape View Way project will offer 42 total units. All units will be affordable to households earning less than 60% of area median income (AMI), with 16 units further restricted for households earning less than 30% of AMI, and in some cases, people transitioning from homelessness.

“Our administration has made it a priority to create adequate housing to support our economy and families since day one,” said Baker. “We have been proud to make record investments to build and preserve tens of thousands of housing units as well as champion zoning reforms in partnership with local leaders to better position cities and towns to advance housing in their communities ”

Then-Lt. Gov. Karen Polito said community input stressed the urgent need for the funding. “Whether it’s seniors looking to downsize or young couples looking for their first home, in our travels across the Commonwealth we heard from countless residents and local leaders describing the need for more – and more affordable – housing options in their communities,” she said “Through various state programs and through the creation of the Community One Stop for Growth single application portal, we have made it easier for communities to access state programs that would allow them to invest in housing.”

460 W. Main Street

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-771-5400

haconcapecod.org

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FIFTH ANNUAL WALK FOR HOPE

Sunday, May 21 in Falmouth, Hyannis and Orleans

Interested in walking as an individual or with a group?

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