FALL 2026 | VOL. 35, ISSUE 3
A NEWSLETTER FROM HOUSING ASSISTANCE
To everyone who has been involved in the recent improvements to our home, I cannot fully express my gratitude in a single letter for all that has been done for my children and me. For the past six years, our family has been navigating an extraordinary number of challenges—through the pandemic, my battle with cancer, and significant losses of income and financial stability. Six years of uncertainty takes its toll on a family’s enthusiasm, perseverance, and resilience. There have been many days when I simply did not know where to begin. There have also been days when I found hope, only to become overwhelmed when another challenge appeared. Housing Assistance has given my children and me something I had begun to fear we might not have again: a renewed sense of hope and security in our home. The repairs and improvements you have helped provide are things I simply could not have afforded on my own while working multiple jobs to support my family. We have been unable to make the repairs needed, while unable to afford to live anywhere else. The last thing we wanted to do was give up our home having given up so much already. For a period of time, all three of us were experiencing persistent respiratory symptoms, including congestion and runny noses. Knowing that the condition of our home could be contributing to our health was incredibly difficult. There is a particular kind of heartbreak that comes from knowing your children’s living environment needs improvement and feeling unable to provide those improvements yourself. I carried a deep sense of inadequacy and worry, despite doing everything I could to keep our family moving forward. Over the past several months, however, we have had the privilege of meeting some truly wonderful people who have been, in every sense, the wind beneath our wings. The improvements to our home have changed our daily lives in ways that are difficult to put into words. A weather barrier beneath our historic home, built in the 1750s, has helped protect its foundation. A new heating and cooling system provides better humidity control and air filtration. And a new roof means that we can finally live without the constant fear of leaks and the damage they bring. These may be physical improvements to a house, but what you have given us goes far beyond that. You have given us security. You have given us hope. Perhaps most importantly, you have reminded us that we are part of a community that cares. Continued on page 7
EDITORIAL BY ALISA MAGNOTTA
Community is Worth Fighting For Over the past several months, I've found myself thinking about what creates a strong community.
Yet the challenges remain significant.
It's easy to define community by geography. We live on the same peninsula; we share the same roads, schools, beaches, and businesses. But the true meaning of community is something deeper. It involves caring about people we may never meet.
Over the past decade, the inventory of year-round rental housing on Cape Cod has shrunk dramatically, from 20% to 12% - just as Gen Z comes of age. As housing costs continue to rise, more people find themselves squeezed out of the communities they love. Without intentional action, the next generation will have fewer opportunities to build a life here than the generation before them. That should concern all of us.
Care may look like speaking publicly in support of affordable housing because you want young families to have a chance to stay on Cape Cod. It may look like volunteering your time to help the guests at our family shelter. It may look like a philanthropic gift in support of our mission, providing housing stability for people whose names you may never know. The highest form of community is displayed in our moral obligation to stand with people who are often overlooked, dismissed, and disenfranchised. The family living in a motel after losing their rental. The senior struggling to remain in the home where they built a life. The survivor fleeing domestic violence. The worker commuting hours because there is nowhere affordable to live near their employer. The person experiencing homelessness who is treated as a problem instead of a neighbor.
If we care about strong schools, thriving local businesses, quality healthcare, public safety, and vibrant year-round villages, we must also care about whether people have a place to live. Housing is not separate from these priorities. It is the foundation that makes them possible. I often think about my own journey. Like many people who chose to build a life on Cape Cod, I fought to stay because I believe in this community. I raised my daughters here. I invest my time and energy here. Thousands of others share that same story, and they deserve the same opportunity.
These are not strangers. They are members of our community, and those of us who have the privilege to do so must take responsibility to advocate on their behalf.
The future of Cape Cod will be shaped by the choices we make now. Will we create a community where only a fortunate few can remain? Or will we be the generation that made room for others, welcomed new neighbors, and ensured that opportunity remained within reach?
Advocacy is not always comfortable. It requires courage to speak up, especially when misinformation spreads. It means challenging assumptions about who belongs here. It means remembering that every person deserves dignity, safety, and the opportunity to thrive.
At Housing Assistance, we will continue fighting for housing. We will continue standing up for people who need a voice. And we will continue working toward a Cape Cod where everyone has the opportunity to belong.
Cape Cod has made important progress in addressing our housing crisis. Communities across the region are creating new housing opportunities, investing local resources, and embracing solutions that help people remain part of the year-round fabric of our towns.
The true measure of a community’s values is not how it treats the most fortunate among us. It is how it responds to those facing the greatest challenges.
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I believe that is a cause worth fighting for, and I am grateful to have you alongside us.
A New Home in Cataumet Every day, Housing Assistance's outreach liaisons work alongside people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For many, the loss of housing can set off a chain of challenges that make regaining stability feel nearly impossible, especially in Cape Cod's competitive housing market. "Unfortunately, a lot of our time is spent telling people, 'No, housing is not really affordable to them,'" says Tim Regan, Assistant Director of Individual Homeless Services. "The fact that our organization has created these units has given our folks the opportunity to put a roof over their heads, but also build something that will lead them to their longerterm goals." Recognizing the urgent need for low-barrier, supportive housing, Housing Assistance found an opportunity to create new solutions from existing resources. When family shelter services were consolidated at the Family Empowerment Center in Dennis in 2025, former shelter properties were reimagined to meet one of the region's greatest needs: long-term housing for people experiencing homelessness.
THIS IS HOME NOW. – Laura, Village at Cataumet resident
One of those transformations is the Village at Cataumet in Bourne. Once a motel and later a family shelter, the property now provides 18 single-room housing units and serves as Housing Assistance's Upper Cape intake office, expanding access to services for community members in need. "This is home now. I don’t want to move anywhere else," shared Laura, a resident. "We have a really good group; there’s a sense of community here." These transformations are an example of how coordination, creativity, and community support allow us to take what we already have and build it into something bigger. This work creates more than housing. It creates opportunities for people to regain stability, pursue their goals, and build a brighter future on Cape Cod. Volunteers from Sturgis High School and the Cape & Islands Association of REALTORS® beautifying the Village at Cataumet over the summer.
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From Smart Planning to Places Called Home In 2022, we partnered with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to create Grow Smart Cape Cod, a set of maps outlining how housing and conservation can work together, not against each other. Every project we build starts here, checked against this research to make sure it's away from sensitive natural resources and exactly where affordable, yearround housing is needed most. Learn more at growsmartcapecod.org
107 Main is a Place to Breathe Again for Tia's Family Tia found herself struggling to navigate the Cape Cod housing market while raising two young children, including her daughter Ava, who has autism and relies on specialized support. After months of instability, she was able to move into a 2bedroom apartment at 107 Main.
PICTURES DON'T DO IT JUSTICE. MY KIDS ARE SO HAPPY. AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THEY JUST WANTED TO BE HOME.
Cape View Way is a Fresh Start for the Morris Family Shamim Morris works for the Barnstable School District. When her husband, a landscaper, lost both hands in a work accident, her family faced years of housing instability through no fault of their own. Then, they found Cape View Way.
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR US. WE ARE EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
107 Main St, Orleans Completed 2025 | 14 rental homes
CAPE VIEW WAY, BOURNE Completed 2025 | 42 rental homes
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT Dottie Fulginiti, MassDevelopment We sat down with Dottie Fulginiti, Senior Vice President of Community Assets & Deputy Director of Community Investments at MassDevelopment, to learn more about their partnership with Housing Assistance. Below is a summary of our conversation. Tell us about MassDevelopment's mission and priorities, and how that intersects with the work that Housing Assistance is doing. MassDevelopment is the state’s development finance agency and land bank. We help communities across Massachusetts by providing financing, grants, and real estate expertise that support economic opportunity and community development. Our work includes everything from helping businesses grow and redeveloping vacant properties to supporting housing, cultural facilities, and other community assets. Housing is one of the Commonwealth's greatest challenges, especially in seasonal communities like Cape Cod. Housing Assistance has been a trusted partner in addressing those challenges for many years. We are proud to support organizations that work collaboratively to create housing opportunities that help people remain in the communities where they live and work. MassDevelopment has provided funding for both the Family Empowerment Center and the individual shelter. What makes these projects strong candidates for investment? MassDevelopment’s products provide cost-effective financing that not only supports housing development and preservation but also supports the delivery of services and educational programs to fulfill an organization’s mission. Every project MassDevelopment supports is evaluated against established program criteria and must demonstrate a clear public benefit. We look at factors such as community need, project readiness, financial feasibility, and whether public funding will help move the project from concept to reality. For the Family Empowerment Center, MassDevelopment provided an Underutilized Properties Program grant to support renovations, along with tax-exempt bond
financing that helped Housing Assistance refinance the property's acquisition. At 460 West Main Street, an Underutilized Properties Program grant helped fund improvements needed to convert an existing commercial building into supportive shelter housing. While these projects serve different populations, both involved putting existing buildings back into productive use and addressing significant housing needs within the region. They also represented partnerships among nonprofit organizations, lenders, and public agencies working toward a common goal. Cape Cod faces unique housing challenges due to seasonal demand, limited supply, and rising costs. How can strategic investments like these help communities preserve year-round housing stability and support local workers and families? Strategic public investments help close financing gaps that often prevent worthwhile projects from moving forward. They also encourage the reuse of existing buildings, helping communities make the most of their existing assets. Continued on page 8
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Giving Back, Moving Forward: Genesa's Journey with Housing Assistance Genesa has been a steady volunteer at Housing Assistance for seven years, helping wherever she's needed, from processing invoices and preparing mailings to supporting staff across multiple departments. Born and raised on Cape Cod, Genesa understands the importance of housing stability firsthand. After her family lost their home to foreclosure, she spent time at CHAMP Homes before securing an apartment at Village Green through a housing lottery. Today, she has maintained stable housing there for nine years. "I like giving back to my community," she says. Volunteering provides purpose, connection, and a way to stay engaged. Living with a disability, anxiety, and depression, Genesa credits staying active with helping her move forward through life's challenges. That same determination helped her recover from a serious horseback riding accident, earn her driver's license, and enroll in college to pursue an Administrative Assistant certificate.
Housing Assistance has been part of Genesa’s life since childhood, when she attended agency events alongside her aunt, a longtime housing professional. Years later, she returned as a volunteer, supporting the same mission that once touched her own life. Today, Genesa continues to give her time, energy, and compassion to help others. Her story is a reminder that when people are given the opportunity to thrive, they often become the ones strengthening their communities in return.
Above: Genesa as a young Housing Assistance volunteer. To right: Genesa today, pictured at Housing Assistance in Hyannis.
Three Hours Can Keep a Family Moving With more families currently staying at the Family Empowerment Center, reliable transportation is needed four days a week – and volunteer drivers can make a tremendous difference. Current transportation shifts: Mondays & Wednesdays at 10 AM Stop & Shop Plaza
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 1 PM Harwich Food Pantry
Each shift takes approximately three hours. Whether you can help once a week or commit to just one shift a month, your time will provide meaningful support to families.
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Interested in volunteering? Contact Catherine Clark at cclark@haconcapecod.org or scan the QR code to learn more.
JESSICA’S LETTER, from cover There is something profoundly meaningful about reaching out for help and having someone you did not know take your hand. At a time when our family had been carrying so much, the generosity, kindness, and work of the people involved in helping us has restored something in all three of us that goes beyond the walls of our home. It has restored our faith in people and in the idea that, even during the most difficult seasons of our lives, we do not have to carry everything alone. I want each of you to know how deeply grateful I am — not only for what you have done, but for the way you have done it. Your generosity has allowed my children and me to breathe a little easier, sleep a little more peacefully, and look toward the future with renewed hope. You have filled our hearts with a sense of security, ope, and love that we will carry with us. I know that the three of us will continue to pay that kindness forward, following the example you have set for us.
THERE IS SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY MEANINGFUL ABOUT REACHING OUT FOR HELP AND HAVING SOMEONE YOU DID NOT KNOW TAKE YOUR HAND.
From the very bottom of my heart, thank you for seeing our family, for believing that our home was worth investing in, and for giving us the gift of a safer, healthier, more secure place to call home. With deepest gratitude,
Jessica
50 Years of Weatherization Services Often, the thing that makes an otherwise affordable home unaffordable is the cost of energy. Through our energy-efficiency programs, Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Appliance Management Program, Housing Assistance provides weatherization and appliance upgrades to households that receive fuel assistance, a discounted utility rate, or whose income falls under 60% of the Area Median Income (between $59,340 and $111,840, depending on household size).
To learn more, email HACenergy@haconcapecod.org
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DOTTIE FULGINITI, from page 5 A healthy community depends on having housing options for people at different stages of life and income levels. That includes young families, older adults, healthcare workers, teachers, hospitality employees, first responders, and many others who contribute to the Cape's economy and quality of life throughout the year. If you could leave our community with one message about the importance of investing in housing and supportive services, what would it be? Strong communities work together to address the needs of the people who live there while respecting the values and character that make each community unique. Thoughtful planning, collaboration, and open dialogue are essential to finding solutions that reflect local priorities and create lasting public benefit. At MassDevelopment, our goal is to partner with communities and organizations to make thoughtful investments that strengthen neighborhoods today and for future generations.
YOUR LEGACY CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO HOME. By including Housing Assistance in your will or estate plans, you can help Cape Codders find and maintain stable, attainable housing for generations to come. Planned gifts may be made through a bequest, retirement plan or life insurance beneficiary designation, or donor-advised fund. Your intentions remain revocable and confidential.
HOUSING
L E G A C Y C I R C L E
To learn more, contact Margaret Benaka, Senior Director of Annual and Legacy Giving: mbenaka@haconcapecod.org • 508-771-5400, ext. 272
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Creating New Housing Opportunities in Brewster: Spring Rock Village Housing Assistance recently joined state and local leaders, project partners, and community supporters to celebrate the groundbreaking of Spring Rock Village, a new 45-home affordable rental community that will expand year-round housing opportunities in Brewster. The development, located off Millstone Road in Brewster, represents ten years of planning, partnership, and community commitment to addressing the region's housing shortage. Developed in partnership with the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and the Town of Brewster, Spring Rock Village will include 15 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom apartments spread across five residential buildings. Designed with traditional Cape Cod architecture, the community will be centered around a shared green space and built with sustainability in mind and preserve the surrounding 16-acre woodland habitat.
For Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance, the project reflects a commitment to ensuring that more people can build stable futures in the communities they call home. Continued on page 11
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A New Path to Homeownership in Hyannis Cornerstone Hyannis is bringing 50 new condominium homes to 268 Stevens Street in downtown Hyannis— creating an attainable path to homeownership for middle-income Cape Codders.
The one-, two- and three-bedroom homes will feature open floor plans, modern kitchens, in-unit laundry and dedicated storage. Residents will also enjoy secure access, off-street parking, a community room, work pods and an outdoor patio with a grill and fireplace — all just minutes from Main Street, Cape Cod Hospital, local transportation and Hyannis Harbor. Homes are expected to be completed in early 2027, with estimated prices ranging from approximately $275,000 to $445,000 based on household income, size and eligibility. Visit cornerstonehomescapecod.com to explore floor plans, review preliminary eligibility information and sign up for updates.
SAVE THE DATE
3.10.27
5th Annual Summit Margaritaville Resort, Hyannis WEDNESDAY
Join community leaders and housing advocates from across our region for conversation, ideas and action around Cape Cod’s housing needs.
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MARCH
10 2027
SPRING ROCK VILLAGE, from page 9
"Today marks a turning point on the Lower Cape, as work begins on creating new housing for the people who make this region run,” she said. “We are proud that Spring Rock Village will give people an opportunity to put down roots, build their lives here, and contribute to the wellbeing of our communities while preserving the natural beauty of the Cape." Amanda Bebrin, Chair of the Brewster Select Board whose home abuts the new development, spoke about the importance of making Brewster a place where people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to live and thrive. "I have been so fortunate to be able to choose to move to Brewster and build my dream life here,” she said. “That is an opportunity I feel is a moral imperative that we offer to others, regardless of their income or background, whether they're already here in Brewster, want to come back here, or move here for the first time. I am so excited to have 45 homes full of new neighbors, with their own full lives and dreams and contributions to our community." Project partners echoed the significance of the development. Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of POAH, highlighted the impact of collaboration in addressing the Cape's housing needs. "Public and private partnerships such as this help us create more homes for many who could otherwise not afford to live in high market rate communities, especially low-income families and individuals," he said. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027. The homes will create opportunities for a wide range of Cape Cod residents, with income eligibility ranging from less than 30% to 80% of Area Median Income ($29,650 to $131,050, depending on household size). Leasing will take place through a lottery process administered jointly by Housing Assistance and POAH Communities. Spring Rock Village represents more than the construction of new buildings. It is an investment in people, community, and the future of Cape Cod, ensuring that more people will have the opportunity to put down roots, pursue their goals, and contribute to the vibrant communities that make the region so special. To learn more, visit springrockvillage.org 11 | HACbeat • Fall 2026
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