News
A Fulfilling Career Spent Serving Families in Shelter
On the first night that Carriage House opened as a family shelter in August of 1989, Marty Wass was the only staff on duty. “It was myself and one other resident,” she recalled. Since that time, she has remained a constant, [...]
Help Available for Households Struggling to Pay Rent, Mortgage
Since last March, Housing Assistance has approved over $1.48 million in financial assistance to keep more than 400 households on Cape Cod and the Islands in their homes. “Without this safety net, they would all be at risk of homelessness or [...]
Donation of Winter Coats, Blankets Protect Barnstable’s Homeless Population
A little more than two weeks before the start of winter, students enrolled in the Plymouth Police Academy stopped by Housing Assistance to donate over two dozen coats and blankets for the region’s homeless. Plymouth Police Academy Winter Coat and [...]
Patty Alonso Recipient of Ed O’Neil Award for Work with Homeless
Working with homeless individuals can be difficult work. There are many obstacles to getting them housed that must be overcome: lack of identification and references; difficulty staying in contact and completing paperwork; and sometimes physical and mental health issues. But [...]
Donor Spotlight: Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS
In December 2014, Housing Assistance launched its Welcome Home Gift Basket Program which provides essential home goods to our clients who are making the transition from shelter to permanent housing. That year, the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS [...]
120 New Affordable Rental Units in Development
Since its inception in 1974, Housing Assistance has developed over 550 units of affordable housing on Cape Cod and the Islands. In the next few years, that number will increase significantly as our agency works to construct three separate developments [...]
Family Continues Tradition of Purchasing Books for Children in Shelter
Children’s education was important to Susan Royer. She embraced this cause as the Vice President and Executive Director of Education and Research at Sesame Workshop. She also was passionate about supporting society’s most vulnerable. As an elder at the Presbyterian Church [...]
New Year, New Opportunities, and Renewed Resolve
This January perhaps more than any other has been a time for Housing Assistance to pause, review the accomplishments and challenges of the past year, and set ambitious goals for the year ahead. Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines has begun, our [...]
Keeping Cape Cod’s Homeless Safe During the Winter
During each month, Housing Assistance’s Homeless Outreach staff works with roughly 25 to 40 homeless individuals at a time. While their work is critical throughout the year, it is even more important during the winter months when frigid temperatures can [...]
Donor Spotlight: Pat and Scott Barron
The drive from Orleans to Bourne is a little less than an hour. The distance hasn’t stopped Scott Barron from making that trek from his Orleans home, nearly once a week for the past 17 years, to volunteer at the [...]
Faith Pays Off for First-Time Homebuyer
For over two years, Evette Brown had been on Housing Assistance’s Ready to Buy list, waiting for the right opportunity to realize her dreams of becoming a homeowner on the Cape. “What struck me about her is her faith,” said [...]
New Playground Brings Joy to Children at Angel House
Children at Angel House received an early Christmas gift in the form of a new playground that was installed at the Hyannis shelter in November. “This playground is such a powerful statement of care and compassion for our community,” said Angel [...]
Special Delivery of Toys
COVID may have forced the cancellation of many events this year, but it couldn’t stop more than 40 motorcyclists from participating in the 21st Annual Chris Wetherbee Memorial Toy Run at the beginning of November. Over $2,000 worth of toys [...]
Financial Assistance Allows Family to Stay Stably Housed
Not long after the pandemic hit, Beth’s* employer reduced her position to 32 hours per week. It stayed that way until June when she was furloughed. “I work five hours a week currently,” Beth said. “They keep me on because [...]
Telethon for Hope Will be a Local Music Celebration
Prepare to dance and sing along with some of the Cape’s top entertainers during Housing Assistance’s 17th Annual Telethon for Hope on Tuesday, December 15, 6-8:30 pm. You can view next week's telethon on local cable access channels 98 & [...]
FORWARD at the Rock a Community Effort
When it comes to developing affordable housing, it’s a community effort. That was certainly the case with FORWARD at the Rock, a new development completed on Hokum Rock Road in Dennis. Featuring eight affordable apartments for adults on the autistic [...]
Finding Purpose at Angel House
One day before her 31st birthday last December, Amanda* entered treatment to deal with her addiction to alcohol. For Amanda, she had reached her lowest point. “I knew my way wasn’t working,” she said. “I avoided the important things I [...]
Editorial: Extraordinary Achievements in Challenging Times
At Housing Assistance, we’ve always said that housing is the foundation for everything a person wants in their life. Before we can build toward our dreams, we need to have a safe place to call home. This year especially, the pandemic [...]
Gifts That Give Back Locally!
Amiplify People of Color www.amiplifypoccapecod.com In late May, Housing Assistance board member, local artist and activist Tara Vargas-Wallace fielded many requests from Cape Codders looking for a resource that would help them support local Black-owned businesses. Finding none, Tara created [...]
Virtual Big Fix-A-Thon Recap
Even with the pandemic, Housing Assistance’s 11th Annual Big Fix-A-Thon was a success with volunteers helping raise nearly $20,000 for our Workforce Housing Relief Fund. Some even embraced the spirit of the annual event by donating their time to give [...]