A New Home in Cataumet

Every day, Housing Assistance’s outreach liaisons work alongside people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For many, the loss of housing can set off a chain of challenges that make regaining stability feel nearly impossible, especially in Cape Cod’s competitive housing market.

“Unfortunately, a lot of our time is spent telling people, ‘No, housing is not really affordable to them,'” says Tim Regan, Assistant Director of Individual Homeless Services. “The fact that our organization has created these units has given our folks the opportunity to put a roof over their heads, but also build something that will lead them to their longer-term goals.”

Recognizing the urgent need for low-barrier, supportive housing, Housing Assistance found an opportunity to create new solutions from existing resources. When family shelter services were consolidated at the Family Empowerment Center in Dennis in 2025, former shelter properties were reimagined to meet one of the region’s greatest needs: long-term housing for people experiencing homelessness.

One of those transformations is the Village at Cataumet in Bourne. Once a motel and later a family shelter, the property now provides 18 single-room housing units and serves as Housing Assistance’s Upper Cape intake office, expanding access to services for community members in need.

“This is home now. I don’t want to move anywhere else,” shared Laura, a resident. “We have a really good group; there’s a sense of community here.”

These transformations are an example of how coordination, creativity, and community support allow us to take what we already have and build it into something bigger. This work creates more than housing. It creates opportunities for people to regain stability, pursue their goals, and build a brighter future on Cape Cod.