This past week has been an unprecedented time for all of us at Housing Assistance. We provide critical services to our community and we’ve had to shift our operations and the way we are delivering those services.
That doesn’t mean we’ve ceased our work. In fact, we’ve stepped up our efforts to communicate internally so our frontline staff can continue help those most in need on Cape Cod and the Islands.
If you need assistance, please contact us at 508-771-5400 or at hac@haconcapecod.org.
This Sunday, I made the decision to move our entire operations to virtual with only in-person activities offered as needed. Our team has been extremely responsive and willing to innovate quickly. Our goal was to keep our workforce employed and remain open for our community.
We have a team identifying strategies on how to keep everyone working and available to our clients. Now more than ever, our community needs us to stay calm, be safe, and respond with resources.
Below are highlights of how we are responding. I am proud of the great work demonstrated here. This is not business as usual and everyone is stepping up to ensure success:
- Our 24-hour shelter staff at Angel House in Hyannis, Carriage House in North Falmouth, Scattered Sites in Hyannis, and Village at Cataumet in Bourne have developed protocols to maintain a clean, safe environment while continuing our operations.
- The Energy Department is continuing emergency services and remaining connected to our clients who have requested or are in the middle of energy audits and weatherization services.
- Our Homeless Outreach Team is helping clients via cell and online. They continue to work with community partners virtually, including Duffy Health Center, St. Joseph’s House, Vinfen, local police departments, local food pantries and more.
- Financial literacy classes as well as reverse mortgage and foreclosure counseling will continue online using Zoom.
- Our homeless prevention, RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition), and front desk colleagues are working from home. We made technological modifications so we can take calls and help clients virtually.
- Our Leased Housing department, which oversees nearly 1,200 housing vouchers, is mostly working from home and will continue to help tenants and landlords with most functions.
- Construction at the Lofts at 57, a mixed-income development consisting of eight rentals on Ridgewood Avenue in Hyannis will continue as contractors are able.
- Our dedicated Maintenance Department will be on-site with protective gear ensuring our facilities are properly deeply cleaned. They will only respond to emergency calls for repairs.
- Property management, Cape Community Real Estate, and our Housing Development department are all working remotely and continuing to operate as they normally would.
- Finance has modified their operations so invoices get processed and checks will be written with little delay.
- IT, HR, and administration have all adjusted our work so we are available to support our staff in working remotely and ensuring client needs are met.
At no time in our agency’s history has the need for safe, stable housing been more apparent than right now. That is why it is more important than ever that we continue to serve our clients. We are here for you.
For anyone seeking to help our clients most at risk, please donate to our Homeless Prevention Fund which will go to one-time emergency expenses to keep people housed and off the streets at this time.
Alisa Magnotta
Chief Executive Officer
