Sharing the Gift of Dignity Oysters

from HACbeat, August 2023

Leaders and Residents Search for Solutions at Falmouth Town Huddle

and Champagne

Some 200 guests gave generously again this ye the 6th annual Oysters and Champagne fundra benefit Housing Assistance. The theme of the n was how the housing crisis is impacting children essential workers, and included a special exhibi children’s art illustrating the theme, “what hom means to me.”

“People want to be here on Cape Cod for the n beauty, for family, friends and community,” Dor Savarese, executive chair of Cape Cod 5, told th crowd assembled at the Wequassett Resort in Harwich “But when your children are impacted housing insecurity, it starts to fray those bonds

Dan Wolf, founder & CEO of Cape Air, asked the crowd to remember what it was like when they bought their first homes on Cape Cod and compare that experience to the struggle many moderateincome people face today. “What you enjoyed here 40 years ago in terms of building a life here doesn’t exist today,” he said “Think back to the you of 40 years ago and give people that opportunity to build now what you were able to build when you were starting out.”

Tony Shepley, founder of Shepley Wood Products, said that solving the housing crisis “isn’t rocket science. We need to wake up our towns and say, ‘You need to find a balance in your zoning ’ We need to do this so our police officers and fire fighters can respond to emergencies, so doctors and nurses can live in the communities they serve.”

Bill Bogdanovich, chair of the Housing Assistance board told the crowd that they could be part of the solution. “Housing Assistance is a solid investment. The agency leverages donations to bring in state and federal money so it can say ‘yes’ to more people,” he said “You have the capacity to make transformative change to the region’s housing crisis.” continued on next page

Thank

Ashley Baker & Dave Miller

Suzanne & Andrew Baker

Sherry & Bill Bogdanovich

Kristen & Chris Boyd

Lindsay Cole & Christopher Ward

Elizabeth & Mike Fish

Alison Grove & Eric Weinberg

Alex Rodolakis

Housing Assistance

OYSTERS & CHAMPAGNE – continued from previous page

Keynote speaker Katie Clancy shared with guests how Housing Assistance helped her when she and her husband were in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. “Housing Assistance gave me the gift of dignity,” she said. “Dignity is the soil where the seeds of self-reliance are sown. That was the gift I received and it’s the gift you can give as well.”

The event raised $450,000 to benefit Housing Assistance programs and services.