HACbeat November 2025 by Housing Assistance Cape Cod

End-of-Year Reflections

As I sat with my team recently, I felt it was important to acknowledge that we’ve been working on the front lines of a crisis for years. Each time we’ve had a particularly busy week, month, or year, new challenges demand even more energy, strategy, and intention. The reality is, our pace won’t slow until the housing crisis does.

When I first joined Housing Assistance, I hosted community meetings with internal and external stakeholders to hear the impact our mission has in our community and what the needs are. Everyone told me that housing matters. It’s a fundamental need just like healthcare, food, and education. We know there is a cure for homelessness and housing instability - it's more housing.

Since our earliest days, our programs have centered on helping Cape Codders stay in their homes and communities, contributing to the local economy and the social fabric of our region. But programs alone can’t sustain families people need stable homes to thrive.

That’s why we’ve focused our recent efforts on what our region needs most: more housing, opportunity, and support. By building new homes, reimagining existing spaces, and expanding programs, we’re meeting the needs of those who call Cape Cod home.

Over the past 18 months, we’ve made major strides:

We moved into a new, modern headquarters that better serves our team’s needs, making way for our partners at Catholic Charities and Duffy Health Center to operate St. Joseph’s House shelter and a co-located healthcare clinic at our former site.

We consolidated three family shelters into the Family Empowerment Center in Dennis, now home to 67 families with children. In this space, we're able to provide greater programming, greater efficiency, and more opportunities for community involvement.

At the former Angel House, we opened the Cape’s first transitional housing for youth and young adults (ages 18 to 25). At the same site, we’re supporting families transitioning out of shelter who need additional time to build stability and independence. In Cataumet, we’ve added long-term housing for those facing homelessness.

We have also ramped up housing development, completing 39 units in Mashpee, 42 in Bourne, and 14 in Orleans each with ten times more applicants than units available.

Last month we completed a $5 million capital campaign, the first of its kind for our organization. A portion of the funds will support upcoming housing developments, and a revolving fund will allow us to act quickly when development opportunities present themselves, even before funding is secured. The campaign strengthens our ability to sustain the homeless outreach, shelter services, stabilization efforts, and homeownership supports for Cape Cod residents.

As I reflect on these high-level strategic initiatives, I’m reminded that behind each one are the stories of the individuals impacted by our work. It’s the person who will receive enhanced care and services at St. Joseph’s; the mother learning money management as she works toward independence; the family finding stability after years of uncertainty. It's always been about the about the people.

During this season of thanks, I am so grateful for those in our community who remain steadfast champions of housing. Our work is not slowing down, but it also would not be possible without you, and we can only overcome this crisis by working together.

Alisa Magnotta, CEO

The inspiring “Next Gen of Housing Advocates” panel featured emerging leaders from CCYP, Housing Assistance, and the towns of Orleans, Provincetown, and Falmouth, showing that the movement for housing is strong and growing.

The final agenda item of the day was giving out the Housing Champion Award to the members of the Next Generation panel. “We wanted to give this year's award to the future,” said Magnotta. “You stay informed and you participate. We want to recognize you, and we’re going to support you. What we’ve done here today is to try to keep these people here, give them a vision, a way to see themselves, raise their family, invest in their careers, and retire here. It's all of us for all of them.”

How Converting Seasonal Properties to Year-Round Rentals Can Help Solve Cape Cod’s Housing Crisis

Cape Cod’s housing crisis isn’t just about supply it’s about how homes are used. One in three houses sits vacant or is used seasonally, driving up costs and pushing local workers and families out. A new white paper highlights a major solution: convert seasonal and shortterm rentals into year-round homes.

BankFive Shows Commitment to Homebuyers

Few people better understand the challenges that potential homeowners face than the bankers who help arrange mortgage loans That’s why we’re proud that our corporate supporters include several local bank foundations Among them is BankFive Charitable Giving, which has provided general support of $10,000 per year to Housing Assistance since 2023

“At BankFive, we believe that housing is the foundation of thriving communities,” said Charlie DeSimone, Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at BankFive He is a commercial lender who primarily serves the Hyannis area and has long-standing ties within the community

“Over the past three years, our partnership with Housing Assistance has allowed us to directly support families in securing safe, stable, and affordable homes Whether through grant funding, financial education, or collaborative development efforts, we’re proud to stand alongside an organization that shares our commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening neighborhoods across the region ”

BankFive was founded in 1855 as Fall River Five Cents Savings Bank, with a focus on providing banking services to mill workers who could open an account with a handful of pennies

“To celebrate our 170th anniversary, we launched the Five Sense Program, dedicated to providing our customers and community with educational resources, workshops, and customized banking products for their unique needs

“Buying a home can be overwhelming, and it’s not something that’s taught in schools, unfortunately You need a lot of support and sometimes that means having somebody to guide you Providing support for organizations like Housing Assistance, which has direct connections with homebuyers, clearly aligns with our mission of helping people throughout their financial journey ”

At BankFive, we believe that housing is the foundation of thriving communities.

– Charlie DeSimone Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, BankFive

“We’ve been able to grow and evolve but always stayed true to the original reason for opening, which is to meet our customers where they’re at,” said Andrea Rodrigues, First Vice President and Director of Marketing Programs & Community Relations at BankFive “We have all the offerings that any other big bank has, but we still have that human touch, which is something that’s important to us

Charlie DeSimone and Andrea Rodrigues of BankFive

From Homelessness to Homeownership

When Ambermae Rivard first contacted Housing Assistance, she needed help, but what she needed most of all was hope

She had a tumultuous childhood, which resulted in a foster care placement when she was 13 “By the time I turned 18 and aged out of foster care, I had addiction issues,” she said “I was homeless, bouncing around from one friend’s house to another And then I got pregnant ”

She entered an addiction recovery program and was accepted at Angel House, then a family shelter operated by Housing Assistance She stayed there for the rest of her pregnancy and until her son, Matthew, was five months old

“There I found recovery and the support I needed to begin a new life, but more importantly, I received the structure I needed to become a mother and discovered hope for a brighter future,” she said

Throughout her journey, she had the guidance and support of her case manager through Housing Assistance’s Family Empowerment Program With their help, she was able to move into an apartment when Matthew was just five months old and enroll in classes at Cape Cod Community College, where she earned an associate's degree This past May, she completed her bachelor’s degree, graduating with honors from UMass Lowell, with Matthew standing proudly by her side

“Today, I’m still in recovery, I’m working in a job I love with the Department of Mental Health, and I’m pursuing my dream of earning a master’s degree in social work so I can one day have my own practice,” she said

Best of all, she and Matthew have a place to call their forever home This summer they moved into a condo in Brewster, just steps away from the Cape Cod Rail Trail She purchased the condo through a housing lottery administered by Housing Assistance, after taking a First Time Homebuyer’s Course

“Thanks to the support of Housing Assistance, I have the stability that I’ve been wishing for since I was a little girl,” she said “We all need a little help and a little hope – and I know firsthand that Housing Assistance provides both With their support and my own perseverance, I’ve made the journey from homelessness to homeownership ”

“Housing Assistance helped me discover hope for a brighter future,” said Ambermae Rivard, pictured in her new some with her son Matthew

Ambermae (pictured with Ann Rebello) at Housing Assistance’s recent Gratitude Gathering. Ambermae shared her story with the evening’s guests, who were there to celebrate the successful completion of a $5 million capital campaign

You're invited to the third annual Give Hope Where

Share Hope This Holiday Season

Embrace the spirit of the giving season! Collect essential items to help those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity across our region

You Live Celebration & Collection event at our Hyannis office (255 Independence Drive) from 3-5 p.m. Drop off your donations and join us under the pavilion for warm refreshments and music, as we celebrate our collective impact. Mark your calendars for December 10

You can Give Hope Where You Live and brighten up the winter months for locals working toward housing stability

Thanks to the unwavering kindness of our community, in 2024 we raised $82,212, including approximately 1,788 in-kind donations These contributions make a difference in the lives of those we serve

Here’s what you can do to give hope:

Start a fundraiser and invite your network to support Housing Assistance. Our team will provide fundraising ideas, tools, and resources. Host a Donation Drive

Give Gift Cards

Interested in getting involved? Contact Catherine Clark at cclark@haconcapecod.org or visit HACGiveHopeWhereYouLive.org

Give the gift of choice to locals experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Gift cards give parents the opportunity to purchase holiday presents for their children. They also give individuals and families in crisis the opportunity to meet basic needs.

Cornerstone Homes Cape Cod is a vital initiative by Housing Assistance to provide attainable, high-quality homeownership opportunities on Cape Cod.

As the region faces a growing housing crisis, Cornerstone will offer much-needed sustainable, thoughtfully designed homes By fostering stability and opportunity, Cornerstone is helping to build a stronger, more resilient Cape Cod for generations to come.

7 | HACbeat November 2025

107 Main Creates New Neighbors

In October, Meg Chaffee, director of property management for Housing Assistance, met with three of the applicants who had been selected in a lottery to be among the tenants at 107 Main Street in Orleans After a tour, she shared the happy news that they had been approved to move in to Housing Assistance’s newest development

“It was very emotional for me,” she said “My eyes filled up with happy tears, and I barely got the word ‘approved’ out Our new tenants were just as excited and as emotional as I was They were hugging family members and began to highfive each other, saying, ‘We’re going to be neighbors!’ This is what makes all the time and effort rewarding in creating affordable housing on Cape Cod ”

Chaffee shared this experience on October 23rd at the ribbon cutting for 107 Main, a building containing 14 affordable apartments at the former site of a Masonic lodge Housing Assistance was selected by the town in 2022 to develop the 1 25-acre property Located close to downtown Orleans, the units are a mix of 1 three-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, and 9 one-bedroom apartments. All units will be restricted for households below 80% of the county’s area median income. One unit is fully handicapped accessible.

“I have the privilege of doing ribbon cuttings across Cape Cod, but I’m very proud to be here in my town,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta, a resident of Orleans. “This has been a vision that Alan McClennen [former member of the Orleans affordable housing trust fund board] started back in 2019 and to bring it to fruition is very special.”

“107 Main Street has tremendous local support and is an excellent example of collaboration between a town, developer, and state agencies to meet local housing needs,” David Quinn, Housing Assistance VP of real estate development, said in an interview last year.

State Sen. Julian Cyr spoke at the ribbon cutting, saying, “The reality is that we are not going to be able to sustain ourselves as a year-round community without more

projects just like this. May this project serve as a model for what is possible when Cape Codders work collaboratively.”

Housing Assistance is the largest developer of affordable housing in the region and has built almost 600 units since its founding in 1974. Another 242 units are in the development pipeline.

A ribbon cutting marked the opening of 14 affordable apartments in Orleans

David Quinn, left, led a tour of a staged unit at 107 Main

Housing Assistance Completes $5 Million Capital Campaign

Housing Assistance officially reached its $5 million capital campaign goal, completing a community-driven effort that was made possible by over 145 donors to help more Cape Cod residents find stable, year-round housing.

“We are grateful to each and every one of our donors who have supported this effort to give us the flexibility to bring new units online faster, partner smarter, and keep pushing forward,” said Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance. “The dire need for housing across the Cape is clear. In recent homeownership lotteries, we have seen 10 applicants for every available unit. The completion of this campaign means we can say yes more often when new housing opportunities arise.”

A portion of the funds will support upcoming housing developments in several Cape towns, and a revolving fund will allow the organization to act quickly when development opportunities present themselves, even before funding is secured.

“Cape Cod is made up of people who care deeply about this place and about each other,” said Alex Rodolakis, campaign co-chair and an attorney at Fletcher Tilton “When we talk about the housing challenges we are facing, and especially what it means for young families, workers, and older adults, people want to help And they do ”

The campaign was highlighted by a lead gift of $1 5 million from Cape Cod Healthcare, including a new $500,000 investment that was announced at the agency’s 2025 premier fundraising event, Oysters & Champagne The initial $1 million investment was pledged at last year’s fundraiser

“Housing is a regional problem that affects every sector, and in healthcare, we see the impact of this crisis on recruitment and retention of the people who care for our communities,” said Housing Assistance board chairman and Broad Reach Healthcare president and CEO Bill Bogdanovich “Cape Cod Healthcare’s tremendous investment in Housing Assistance shows that it takes all of us stepping up to make sure that we have adequate affordable housing ”

The campaign strengthens Housing Assistance’s ability to sustain the homeless outreach, shelter services, stabilization efforts, and homeownership supports for the Cape’s most vulnerable neighbors

“We are deciding now what Cape Cod will look like in 20 years,” added Magnotta “We can become a place where only a few can afford to live, or we can remain a community that includes teachers, artists, fishermen, nurses, young families and older adults Our goal is to make sure the Cape remains a place that works for all of us ”

Housing Assistance board chairman Bill Bogdanovich encouraged fellow board members to make the final donations that put the capital campaign over the top

Pictured in the two photos above, clockwise from top left: Dorothy Savarese, Paul Niedzwiecki, Jen Niedzwiecki, Alisa Magnotta, Michael and Area Princi

Partnership With Cape Light Compact Pays Off for Clients

“We try to figure out how we can help solve people’s problems,” said Meredith B. Miller, Senior Analyst with Cape Light Compact, focusing on the Income-Eligible Program.

A longtime Housing Assistance partner, Cape Light Compact was formed in 1997 to advance the interests of regional electricity consumers. The Compact member Towns wanted to ensure that energy efficiency funds collected from Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard customers were reinvested in our communities. In addition to purchasing power on behalf of customers and advocating on behalf of consumers on energy-related issues, the Compact implements energy efficiency programs on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.

Cape Light Compact is the regional electric sponsor of Mass Save®, a statewide energy efficiency and decarbonization program. “Our goal this year in the Income Eligible Program is to serve more than 500 customers in single family homes,” said Miller. For those who meet income-eligibility requirements (earning no more than 60 percent of state or area median income), weatherization improvements, such as insulation and air sealing upgrades, are 100% covered by the Compact.

The Compact enrolls clients and refers those who are income-eligible to Housing Assistance. Housing Assistance auditors conduct home energy assessments and if there are recommendations for energy efficient measures, the job is assigned to licensed contractors to complete the weatherization improvements. Depending on the results of the energy assessment, some clients may be eligible for additional upgrades, including heating system and appliance replacements, if the current systems are found to be inefficient. These are also 100% covered by Cape Light Compact.

“Housing Assistance is a valuable partner in implementing the income-eligible energy-efficiency programs, in part because these are the clients they know and serve throughout their programs,” said Miller. “HAC’s energy auditors are not only experienced with the requisite building science training for their jobs, but they are also very good with customers.”

The Cape’s housing supply differs from the rest of the state, she said, because many older residences were originally built for seasonal use and weren’t properly weatherized. And the climate on the Cape and Vineyard can be hard on buildings and require additional maintenance.

The CLC/Housing Assistance partnership gives lowerincome homeowners access to the same kind of energy-efficiency measures as others who have more means, according to Miller. “It really makes a difference for people. I got a note just the other day from an elderly couple who’ve been living in Provincetown for a very long time. We were able to convert their heat to heat pumps and make some other efficiency improvements for them. They said the energy-cost reduction will allow them to stay in their home.”

For customers who are above the 60% income-eligible requirements to be served through Housing Assistance, the Compact has similar offerings with incentives of up to 100% available.

Cape Light Compact can be reached at 800-797-6699. For more information, visit capelightcompact.org.

A ‘Fantastic’ Experience for Energy Client

Mike Majewski says it was “almost like divine intervention” when he saw an ad for Cape Light Compact shortly after his heating system “went kaput.”

“I was in dire straits in my humble abode and the Housing Assistance/Cape Light Compact program bailed me out in timely fashion,” he said.

The new heat-pump system that was installed in 2024 not only efficiently heats his South Yarmouth home, where he’s lived for 20 years, but now gives him air-conditioning for the first time.

Continued on page 11

“Before it felt like I was living in the tropics, but this summer was delightful,” he said “I still am pinching myself and absolutely thrilled that my HVAC system was replaced through the energy-efficiency program. I am very grateful for the coordination, design and orchestration between Cape Light Compact, Housing Assistance, Rise Engineering and Pazakis Plumbing & Heating. I appreciate the professional, competent and efficient manner in

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This is Carl, who faced heartbreak and homelessness after losing his sister and the home they shared. He found Housing Assistance, and with it, a new beginning and a new home.

Mike Majewski with his new heat pump system.

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