Housing Assistance’s David Quinn (from left), Shawna Moos, and CEO Alisa Magnotta with State Representative James Arciero, State Representative Kip Diggs, and Barnstable Town Councilor Nikolas Atsalis.
With housing one of Massachusetts’ most critical issues, state officials visited our office in Hyannis this summer to learn more about the work we’re doing to address the problem on Cape Cod and the Islands.
State Representative James Arciero, Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, joined State Representative Kip Diggs, who also serves on the committee, in meeting with Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta and several department heads, including Vice President of Programs and Client Services Cassi Danzl, Director of Leased Housing Cindi Maule, Director of Housing Development and Planning David Quinn, and Energy Programs Manager Joshua Trott. The meeting allowed our staff to talk about ways we’re preventing families from becoming homeless and stabilizing housing for thousands of Cape Codders through vouchers, financial assistance, weatherization and housing development.
Along with touring our office at 460 West Main Street, the pair visited the Lofts at 57, an eight-apartment pocket neighborhood near downtown Hyannis that we finished last summer.
Elizabeth Wurfbain of the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District leads State Representatives Kip Diggs and James Arciero on a tour of downtown Hyannis.
“My tour with Housing Assistance Corporation showed that we must continue to fund and support local social service organizations to better meet the needs of people who need resources every day to find safe and affordable housing,” Rep. Arciero said.
Rep. Diggs agreed, saying that he gained valuable insight from our staff on just how vital safe, stable housing is to the Cape. “The housing crisis is important because it’s at the highest critical need than it’s ever been before,” he said. “Lack of inventory in both rentals and homes is driving the costs to levels that are unaffordable for most.”
Despite the magnitude of the problem, he said, he was struck by our staff’s eagerness to solve it. “I found the people within your organization to be compassionate, diligent, and professional,” he said. “Today showed me the passion that you all demonstrate for helping people in crisis.”
