When the pandemic hit Cape Cod, Chad knew he had to move.
As an addiction treatment counselor, he was considered an essential employee, supporting patients at a local detox center. That caused concern for the more than 12 residents at a sober home he was managing on the Upper Cape.
“They were concerned I could pick up the virus and bring it into the home,” Chad said. “I was concerned I would pick up something from the home and bring it to the detox facility.”
That is when he started looking for alternative housing, quickly finding a rental in Falmouth at the beginning of April. There was only one problem – he didn’t have enough to cover first and last month’s rent and the security deposit.
Through Falmouth Human Services, Chad was immediately connected to Housing Assistance. Because of his income, he didn’t qualify for public assistance, but he was eligible for support through our private Homeless Prevention.
The program provides one-time emergency financial assistance, up to $500, to keep families and individuals on Cape Cod and the Islands stably housed. That money was pooled with additional support from the Falmouth Service Center and the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund, enabling Chad to move into a one-bedroom cottage that has provided him with the safety he sorely needed.
“It is peaceful,” he said. “Having housing insecurity is an enormous weight to have on someone when you’re fearful. Having my own place has given me the breathing room to not be stressed out. This has been life-changing. I’m not exaggerating.”
Through his work, Chad knows what it means to help those when they need it most. It is why he also volunteers at the Falmouth Service Center. “I try to give back as much as possible,” he said.
When he was the one who had to ask for help, he admitted, it was initially difficult. “I swallowed my pride and took the help,” he said. “It allowed me to continue to live on the Cape and it allowed me to continue to work… Housing Assistance made a huge difference allowing me to find a stable home.”
If you need assistance to stay housed, call (508) 771-5400 or email us at hac@haconcapecod.org. We also are open 9 am to noon, Monday through Friday, at 460 West Main Street in Hyannis.
