Million-Dollar Gift Kick Starts $5 Million Capital Campaign
Housing Assistance launched its 50th anniversary celebration with a rousing show of community support for a $5 million capital campaign to preserve the American Dream on Cape Cod. Funds raised through the campaign will help create both rental and homeownership opportunities for nearly 600 individuals and families living on Cape Cod year-round.
The campaign, and a $1 million gift from Cape Cod Healthcare, were announced by Housing Assistance at its annual Oysters and Champagne event at the Wequassett Resort in Harwich. The announcement was met with a standing ovation from the audience of over 250, who then pledged an additional $500,000.
“Cape Cod Healthcare is proud to contribute $1 million in support of housing for our workforce, so that low- to moderate-income families can live and work here,” said Michael Lauf, President & CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare. “The market alone isn’t going to take care of our housing situation. We need to be creative when it comes to building more affordable units.” He emphasized housing as a critical infrastructure that’s needed for a functional community, just like our roads and bridges.
Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta showed her gratitude for the support. “We are thrilled to receive this financial support from Cape Cod Healthcare but even more importantly the commitment it demonstrates to our mission,” she said. “While stable, attainable year-round housing
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Author to Speak About Housing Inequities
On August 26, author Richard D. Kahlenberg will be in Woods Hole to present his research on housing inequities and share inspiring stories of a growing number of local and national movements working on housing issues in their communities.
The event, entitled “Housing Our Community: Challenges, Collaborations and Hope,” is cosponsored by Housing Assistance and the Jewel Cobb Action Coalition, a Falmouth group dedicated to achieving a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in Woods Hole and Falmouth.
Kahlenberg’s latest book, “Excluded: How Snob Zoning, NIMBYism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don’t See” (2023), is an indictment of America’s housing policy that reveals the social engineering underlying our segregation by economic class, the social and political fallout that result, and what we can do about it.
Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta will open the program and a panel discussion will follow about potential solutions for Cape Cod. Panelists include Ellie Costa, board president, Farming Falmouth; Michael Galasso, affordable housing developer; Hannah Vanderscheuren, co-chair, MBL Housing Action Committee; and Rob Brennan, attorney and real estate and housing developer.
Join Us at the Third HPCC Summit
In the closing hours of their legislative session, Massachusetts lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to pass the Affordable Homes Act, which will provide $5.16 billion in funding for housing and legalize accessory dwelling units throughout the state. Crucially, the act also authorized the creation of a seasonal communities designation, which will provide specific tools and resources to help Cape & Islands towns address the housing crisis. Thanks to everyone who contacted their representative or senator in support of the bill. Your advocacy makes a difference.
Join us at the third annual Housing to Protect Cape Cod Summit, where we will dive into the details of the Affordable Homes Act and discuss how we can leverage the new policies and resources in the act to create more attainable year-round housing across our region. You will have the opportunity to connect with state and local officials, business leaders, and community advocates as we reflect on progress made over the past year and chart the course for the year ahead.
Join us 8 a.m.-1p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Emerald Resort, 35 Scudder Ave. (near the Melody Tent), Hyannis, and take action to keep Cape Cod a thriving, year-round community. Registration opens soon.
Housing Assistance Team to Create Affordable and Attainable Homes in Orleans
You may soon notice a revitalization of vacant property if you drive along Route 6A in Orleans – a positive development for affordable housing and homeownership opportunities on the Lower Cape.
Following an extensive public bidding process, the Town of Orleans awarded Housing Assistance, in partnership with Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Habitat for Humanity, the right to redevelop the former Governor Prence Inn property. Being selected for this project underscores Housing Assistance’s longstanding commitment to providing affordable housing solutions for the Cape community.
The underutilized, 5.5-acre site of the Governor Prence Inn – which closed in 2019 – will be transformed into a very active use and breathe new life into the area. Plans include 61 affordable rental homes for families and seniors, 10 middle-income townhomes for ownership, and seven singlefamily homes for ownership by lower-income residents. This thoughtful mix of housing options is designed to meet the diverse needs of Orleans residents.
“We envision a development that respects the charm of Orleans while providing modern, sustainable living options,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “This project is about creating a community of which the town can be proud. We appreciate the efforts of Town Manager Kim Newman and the Orleans Select Board for the opportunity to bring this plan to fruition and we look forward to working closely with town officials throughout the development process.”
The project comes as the cost of housing on Cape Cod has skyrocketed, making it increasingly difficult for essential workers – educators, health care workers and safety personnel – to live in the communities they serve. The collaborative initiative aims to address the housing issue and keep more families and workers on the Cape. This effort is also part of the long-term strategic plan for Housing Assistance to develop needed attainable housing and help protect the American Dream of home ownership for Cape Codders.
The project is designed with the town character in mind as it intends to re-establish Route 6A frontage and enhance the village center. Rather than large, boxy apartment buildings, the project will feature smaller-scale, multi-unit developments that will blend into the surrounding neighborhood.
Housing Assistance, POAH and Habitat for Humanity each bring a wealth of expertise and a shared vision of improving lives through housing. The design team, including Union Studio, Halvorson and Coastal Engineering, has a deep understanding of the local context and a strong emphasis on sustainable and community-oriented design.
“Since 2009, POAH and Housing Assistance have jointly developed nine successful affordable communities on the Cape, collectively creating over 600 homes in the region,” said POAH Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Julie Creamer. “The Governor Prence project is another opportunity to create a vibrant, attractive residential community that will serve Cape Cod residents for decades to come.”
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod President and CEO Wendy Cullinan is confident the project will “bring the best possible opportunities for affordable housing to Orleans.”
Governor Prence Motel, Entrance Perspective: Union Architecture
FSS Manager Retires From Gratifying Job
Jan Nelson honed her teaching skills in a number of ways: as a training instructor for an insurance company, a vocational counselor, and a high school and elementary school French instructor. She came to Housing Assistance in 2006 for a position in the consumer education department, but soon shifted to a role where her talents have truly shone: head of Housing Assistance’s Family Self-Sufficiency program.
Jan retired in July after 18 years spent helping hundreds of lowincome families build assets. With the help of FSS counseling, clients find and maintain employment, working toward the goal of financial stability without public assistance at the end of the five-year program. An escrow savings account is established for participants when their earned income rises. At graduation they can use the escrow, which can accrue up to $25,000, for anything they choose. Jan has seen dozens of clients use it toward the purchase of a home for their families.
Among Jan’s memorable clients was a single mother with two children who was living in a family shelter and then got a Section 8 voucher through Housing Assistance. “She told me she always wanted to be a nurse,” shares Jan. “She got her associate’s
During her years as head of Housing Assistance’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, Jan Nelson helped hundreds of clients pursue their dreams.
degree, and I referred her to the One Family Scholar program in Boston, and they paid for her bachelor’s degree. When she graduated from FSS, she was able to buy a house.”
“Sometimes people just need to be listened to, and I listened to these folks and gave them some options, gave them a roadmap to follow. It was gratifying for me to see those who followed their dreams, their passions. They went back to school, they got better jobs, and they graduated from the program. It meant a lot to me that I was able to help.”
“Jan has been a consistent champion for families wanting to make real change and has helped hundreds of people navigate complex systems and opportunities to grow,” said Housing Assistance COO Cassi Danzl. “Jan’s dedication to facilitating empowerment was a strength of our FSS program over the last 18 years. ”
While Jan will be missed, she feels Cate Van Gelder, the new FSS manager, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program. “She’s delightful and everybody loves her,” Jan said. “She’ll continue the collaborations that I started with One Family Scholar and Habitat for Humanity, as well as First Citizens Federal Credit Union, where I developed a creditbuilder loan program for our clients. Cate has lots of good ideas, and she’s going to keep on growing the program.”
For more information about FSS, contact Cate Van Gelder at CVanGelder@haconcapecod.org.
We’re proud to collaborate with HAC in building affordable homes for families, creating vibrant neighborhoods, and shaping a brighter future for generations to come. Together, we are making a meaningful impact across Cape Cod.
Falmouth | Quincy
has been a top issue on the Cape as far back as our founding in 1974, today we find ourselves at a tipping point. With recordhigh demand, the American Dream of homeownership is out of reach for too many.”
Housing Assistance’s capital campaign will help increase attainable housing and ensure Cape Cod remains a viable year-round community for future generations. With historic investments in housing from the State and an increased capacity at Housing Assistance, the agency is poised to add housing that will protect the people of Cape Cod - our yearround community who are the backbone of our economy and the future of our region. The $5 million capital fund will enable Housing Assistance to leverage debt and State grants to increase housing production.
Nine projects currently in the pipeline will provide quality housing to 575 individuals and families. These projects have a total cost of $125 million, and the capital campaign will provide the funding needed to bring them over the finish line. Reimbursements on the completed projects will add revenue back into the fund, allowing reinvestment in future projects.
“This moment presents us with an opportunity to turn the tide so that more of the housing that our community needs is being constructed,” said Magnotta. “Housing is both the foundation of a healthy community and the solution to the challenges we face. Without adding to the current inventory, we will continue
to see local families move over the bridge, beloved businesses close their doors, and towns struggle to recruit and retain emergency workers.”
“Our mission at Housing Assistance is to provide attainable and affordable housing for our community,” said Housing Assistance Board Chair Bill Bogdanovich. “In the past six years we have seen the median price for a home on Cape Cod increase by 83%, requiring incomes well over $200,000 per year to obtain a mortgage. This is unsustainable for our young families, our first responders, our teachers, and our healthcare workers – the people we count on each day to make the Cape work.”
The campaign has already seen significant commitments from the community, including a $100,000 gift from Cape Cod 5. “At Cape Cod 5, we believe the only way we’re going to solve our housing challenge is by working together as a community,” said Bert Talerman, President of Cape Cod 5. “A collaborative approach is necessary to help facilitate change and to create more housing for our locals and workforce. We are glad to support Housing Assistance’s capital campaign in this capacity in recognition of the criticality of this issue.”
To learn more about the Housing Assistance 50th anniversary capital campaign, contact Ann Schiffenhaus at aschiffenhaus@haconcapecod.org or visit haconcapecod.org/50th-anniversary/capital-campaign.
