Panel
Housing Summit Focuses on Momentum
The third annual Housing to Protect Cape Cod (HPCC) Summit, held on October 17, focused on ways Cape Codders can leverage the new policies in the historic Affordable Homes Act signed this summer by Gov. Maura Healey.
The passage of the act created a range of resources to create more attainable year-round housing across our region, said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “All of us here today are very excited to keep this momentum going and to take this historic legislation and figure out how to make it implantable in our towns,” she said. “We’re not here to talk about the problem, but to commit to action.”
Edward Augustus, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, referred to the adage that the world is run by those who show up. “That’s literally true in New England where we have a town meeting where whoever shows up that night gets to decide,” he said. “We know in the housing space, with that kind of instinctive nimbyism that we see in so many places, there is always going to be somebody who shows up and says, ‘Not here, not now. It’s a good idea, but it doesn’t belong here.’ The question is, are the rest of us going to show up and give voice for those DPW workers who are living on the beach or in a shack or the other folks who are making that trip every day over the bridge to plow your roads, to clean those hotel rooms, work in those restaurants, and keep the economy of Cape Cod running?”
State Senator Julian Cyr said he was grateful to the
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We’re not here to talk about the problem, but to commit to action.
–ALISA MAGNOTTA
Who Are We Keeping?
Young Couple Enjoys the Stability of Life at the Lofts
Housing Assistance prioritizes creating housing opportunities for locals. Unfortunately, those who cannot find an affordable home on Cape Cod often leave our community – and their skills leave with them. Our goal is to keep locals housed so we can all benefit from what they have to offer.
When the Lofts at 57 opened in the summer of 2020, Isabelle “Izzi” Caplan and Manx Taiki Magyar were the first tenants to move into the cluster of eight townhouses constructed by Housing Assistance in Hyannis.
Taiki owns Big Tree, a local visual creative company that makes promotional content for Cape Cod businesses and nonprofit organizations; Izzi works on his team. They had been looking for a place to live together but were having trouble given the region’s challenging rental market. Currently, the rental vacancy rate is less than 1%.
Community spirit is one of the benefits of
according
“Everything we looked at was quite expensive, but low quality,” shares Izzi. “We wanted to live near Hyannis Main Street, but nothing panned out.” Then she discovered that the Lofts were nearing the end of construction.
Taiki and Izzi appreciate the convenient location on Ridgewood Avenue - easy walking distance to Main Street, the Hyannis Transportation Center and the Hyannis docks - as well as the camaraderie among Lofts at 57 residents. “I’ve cat sat for one of the neighbors quite a few times and people are really helpful if you need anything,” said Izzi.
Taiki added that he’s impressed by the level of service provided by the Housing Assistance property maintenance staff. “If there are any problems, they’re amazing,” he said. “Our other friends have private landlords, and the service is not even close to what we get here. We really love the spot.”
“A lot of our friends are in rental situations where they don’t know when the landlord is going to kick them out,” said Izzi. “One of our friends rents a house in Sandwich that was sold, the new owners plan to turn it into a summer rental, so they have to move out within the year. We definitely feel really lucky that our home is so stable.”
To learn more about Housing Development at Assistance, visit haconcapecod.org/about/housing-development. Learn more about Big Tree ant bigtreevideo.com.
life at the Lofts at 57,
to Isabelle Caplan and Manx Taiki Magyar. (photo courtesy of Geoff Bassett)
Looking to the Next 50 Years
Dear Friends,
As we close out this milestone year, I am full of gratitude for all we’ve accomplished together.
Our 50th anniversary highlighted the tremendous transformation that has taken place at Housing Assistance since our founding as a rental voucher agency: Today, we have a staff of 120, we’ve assisted over 200,000 Cape Codders, we’ve constructed over 600 units of affordable housing, and we’ve set up a development pipeline of another 200-plus units. None of this would be possible without the time, talent, and treasure offered to us by our community.
We’ve spent the past five years scaling up so that we have the capacity to make an even greater impact in the future. We have the experienced staff, strong balance sheet, and collaborative relationships that are needed to carry our mission forward.
As you’ll read in the following pages, quite a few of our longterm goals are on the cusp of coming to fruition:
• Despite significant headwinds, we will be consolidating our family shelters into our new property at One Love Lane in Dennis;
• We will relocate our headquarters to create a more welcoming housing resource center; and
• Several housing developments are underway at various stages of construction, including our first with a homeownership component.
This is an exciting time, even with the winds of change coming from Washington. In Massachusetts, we have stronger pro-housing policies through the passage of the Affordable Housing Act.
Our nation may be divided but it is virtually united in the understanding that we need more housing, especially homes that are affordable to people at all income levels. There is clarity on the housing crisis.
On the local level, leadership is taking the need for housing seriously. Housing Assistance has used data and facts to educate the Cape’s leaders about the benefits of modest density and housing infrastructure that will protect the region’s ecosystem while supporting a year-round economy that benefits everyone. We have driven this point home through our work with Housing to Protect Cape Cod and a regional TV advertising campaign. Seven of our 15 towns have identified town-owned land for housing. They’re reallocating assets, changing policies, and putting action to the crisis.
Through organized advocacy, we have seen a shift from analyzing the problem to making real change. The progress we have made in getting people into stable, permanent housing and the broad acceptance that we must work together as a region to solve the Cape’s housing crisis will fuel our resolve.
We may have furled our 50th anniversary banner, but our efforts to create solutions to the housing crisis will not flag.
Alisa Magnotta, CEO
SUMMIT: Continued from cover
community housing advocates who put in time and effort to help shape and pass the housing act. “I don’t talk to a leader in the region on any issue who doesn’t bring up housing as the number one issue,” he said. “Whether you’re an employer in our healthcare sector or human services sector, whether you’re trying to figure out how you make a town run or keep a restaurant open, the biggest challenge is finding a workforce – and that challenge is directly tied to housing.”
More than 300 people, including local officials, business leaders and community advocates, attended the summit. Panel discussions focused on ways the region and individual towns can implement key elements of the act, including the Seasonal Communities Designation and the loosened restrictions on the construction of ADUs (accessory dwelling units).
The event concluded with recognition of four local housing champions:
• State Senator Julian Cyr: For his consistent advocacy at the State House on behalf of our region’s needs
• Michael Galasso: For his dedication to developing affordable housing in Falmouth
• Tara Vargas Wallace: For her leadership in giving voice to marginalized members of our community and speaking up in Barnstable to ensure equity on the town’s ad hoc housing committee
• Lynne Rhodes: For speaking up in Barnstable to ensure equity on the town’s ad hoc housing committee
To learn more or join the Housing to Protect Cape Cod coalition, visit housingtoprotectcapecod.org.
Upcoming HPCC Events
Housing Advocacy Training Series
Advocacy 101: Engaging in Your Town January 2025
Planning Boards: The Gatekeepers to Housing Production February 2025
Town Meeting 101 March 2025
Municipal Education Series
Adoption and Application of By-Right ADUs
December 11, 2024 at 4 PM
Dover Amendment and Other Zoning Protections April 9, 2025 at 4 PM
Richard Kahlenberg signed books after the panel discussion.
Driscoll and Augustus Visit Site of Future Middle-Income Housing in Orleans
On August 28, Housing Assistance celebrated the recent passage of the Affordable Homes Act at a special event with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward M. Augustus Jr., and local officials. The gathering was at the former Governor Prence Inn on Route 6A in Orleans, where Housing Assistance and its partners will rejuvenate the 5.5-acre parcel following a competitive bidding process held by the Town of Orleans. The redevelopment will include 61 affordable rental homes, 10 middle-income townhomes, and seven single-family homes for lower-income residents, representing a significant step forward in addressing the region’s housing challenges.
Housing Our Community: Challenges, Collaborations and Hope
This inspiring event, held in August, brought together community members and advocates to discuss housing inequities and potential solutions. Richard D. Kahlenberg, author of Excluded: How Snob Zoning, NIMBYism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don’t See, shared his research on the efforts of local and national movements striving to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans affected by housing challenges. The panel discussion with our passionate local advocates provided an engaging platform to explore innovative ideas and potential solutions for our community. Thank you to the Jewel Cobb Action Coalition for co-sponsoring this event.
State and local officials with development partners from POAH and Habitat for Humanity.
Housing Assistance Launches Next 50 Years from New Headquarters
In mid-December, Housing Assistance will open a new headquarters to accommodate its administrative staff, improve access to programs, and increase collaboration with the community.
The offices will relocate to 255 Independence Drive in Hyannis, just a few miles from our headquarters at 460 West Main Street, where we have been since 1976. Our new space will serve as one of three regional housing resource centers and the home for the agency’s Education & Housing Counseling programs and services. We operate a regional housing center in Orleans and plan to open another location in the Upper Cape region.
The purchase of 255 Independence Way was made possible through the generosity of Barnstable real estate developer Stuart Bornstein and his wife, Jamila. Bornstein sold the property to Housing Assistance as a means to support the organization’s mission. The transaction enabled Housing Assistance to transition from renting to owning its home in Hyannis.
“As a longtime housing developer, I know how meaningful it is to have your own place to call home,” said Bornstein. “As a longtime supporter of Housing Assistance, I am happy to help provide the agency with a home of its own as it continues to advance its mission throughout the Cape and Islands region.”
A centerpiece of the new headquarters will be a 1,000-square-foot collaborative training space for use by Housing Assistance, as well as community organizations and businesses who wish to use it for meetings, trainings, or events.
“We look forward to welcoming the wider community to our collaborative training space, where we can better serve clients in need of housing support and forge strong partnerships that are necessary to solve the region’s housing crisis,” said Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance.
Supported by philanthropic donations as well as a MassDevelopment grant, the property has been undergoing interior renovations to fit the organization’s mission and the needs of its growing workforce.
“This new headquarters is the perfect place to be for our next 50 years as the demand for housing-related services and programs continues to grow and our work requires a higher level of collaboration and accessibility,” said Bill Bogdanovich, Chair of the Housing Assistance Board of Directors.
The move comes as Housing Assistance has outgrown its longtime offices at 460 West Main Street. The nonprofit currently employs about 120 people and expects to create eight new full- and part-time positions at the new location.
“This is an opportunity not only to improve the workspaces that our dedicated team uses every day but also to better serve our clients with a strategically designed space where they can be connected to the services that we provide in a more meaningful way,” said Cassi Danzl, Chief Operating Officer at Housing Assistance.
255 Independence Drive, Hyannis
Give Hope Where You Live
Housing Assistance invites you to Give Hope Where You Live! As Cape Codders, we take care of our own. Our community has always been strong, and each one of us can make a difference.
where you live
This time of year, cold weather and financial pressures take their toll. But YOUR support can help lift spirits and ease the stress of those facing homelessness and housing instability.
As the Housing Assistance team works on housing solutions, we need YOUR help to keep the hope alive.
To start making a difference locally at HACGiveHopeWhereYouLive.org. To learn more about engagement and sponsorship opportunities, contact events@haconcapecod.org.
Mark your calendars for December 15!
Participants will receive a special invitation to recognize our collective impact and thank our many supporters with a celebration event at the end of the campaign.
WAYS TO GIVE
Embrace the season of giving with a gift today. Every dollar raised will support housing for locals and ensure Cape Cod remains a viable yearround community for future generations.
Start a fundraiser and invite your network to support Housing Assistance. Our team will provide fundraising ideas, tools, and resources.
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.
Partner Sponsor: Lourenco Brothers
In doing regular cleanups and mulching at Housing Assistance properties, the Lourenco Brothers Yardscape & Design team has become familiar with Housing Assistance’s work.
“We see the amazing work from the front row,” said Jeferson Lourenco, who owns the business with his brothers Fernando and Paulo. The local company is a Partner sponsor of the Give Hope Where You Live campaign.
“We always have it in mind for our company to return to the community the good fortune that others have done for us,” he said. “Our families live here, and we see the difficulty that many have in finding housing that is accessible. We struggle to find enough workers because they don’t have the ability to live here on Cape Cod because of the housing costs. We see how it affects people and that’s why we need to contribute and give back to the community. It’s a great opportunity to be part of this campaign.”
Partner Sponsor: The Knack
Brothers Van and Michael Haidas opened The Knack in Orleans in 2014 and a second outlet in Hyannis in 2022. The restaurants’ burgers, onion rings, and shakes have built a loyal fan base. Grateful for the community support, they’re committed to giving back, donating 10 percent of the sales of desserts to local charities.
When they added the second location, they expanded their donations, which now go to 10 local nonprofits, including Housing Assistance for the last three years. The brothers added a little extra this year to reach the Partner sponsorship level of the Give Hope Where You Live campaign.
“Housing is a huge problem on Cape Cod, as it is nationally for a lot of systemic reasons,” said Michael. “There’s nothing more important to people than having a place to live and somewhere you’re not worried about getting kicked out of a few months down the line. We love the work that Housing Assistance is doing and we’re happy to be able to support it.”
Van said they have seen the effects of the housing crisis up close. “We’ve had employees who have moved three or four times in a year, just trying to find something that they can afford and stay local,” he said. “We’ve also lost numerous employees to Vermont or anywhere else where they can find a better situation for housing. We pride ourselves on paying very well for a restaurant, and we want our employees to be able to afford to live here, but it is difficult.”
Van, left, and Michael Haidas
From left, Paulo, Fernando and Jeferson Lourenco
Housing Assistance Celebrates Anniversary
On September 20th, former and current Housing Assistance staff, Board members, partners, and supporters gathered at the Cape Playhouse to mark the organization’s 50th anniversary.
It was a celebration of 50 years of providing housing support and transforming lives in the Cape Cod community. Over the past five decades, we have helped individuals and families find stability, security, and hope through our housing programs.
In a video produced for the occasion, we reflected on our journey, shared inspiring success stories, and honored the dedicated team members, volunteers, and community partners who have made our work possible.
As we look ahead, we know that our mission is far from over, and we continue to strive for a future where everyone has access to safe, affordable housing.
To see the video about our first 50 years:
To see highlights from our 50th anniversary celebration:
Clockwise from top left: 1) State Sen. Julian Cyr, State Sen. Susan Moran, State Rep. David Vieira and State Rep. Chris Flanagan took turns reading a state proclamation honoring Housing Assistance. 2) Housing Assistance Board Chair Bill Bogdanovich, CEO Alisa Magnotta and former CEO Rick Presbrey shared the spotlight. 3) Supporters and community partners joined together on stage to share Housing Assistance memories and spell out a special message.
New Family Shelter Nears Opening Date
After nearly a year of preparation, Housing Assistance’s new family shelter is slated to open in January 2025. Our three family shelters - Angel House in Hyannis, the Village at Cataumet in Bourne, and Carriage House in North Falmouth – will be consolidated into a single facility at One Love Lane in Dennis.
An important element of life at One Love Lane will be educational opportunities to prepare parents and their families for life after their time in shelter. That will include the continuation of programs happening at the current family shelters, as well as some new offerings.
“One Love Lane will be a much more conducive space for education because we will have a primary workshop space, which is also the dining room. That is the largest room in the building,” said Cassi Danzl, Chief Operating Officer for Housing Assistance. “Because we will have a higher number of families at one site, it will allow us to have much more effective approaches to workshops. It makes it much more attractive to outside educators because we’ll have this critical mass of families, streamlining the opportunity for education.”
Educational programs will include budgeting and money management, housing opportunities and housing search, nutrition and menu planning, and parenting classes. Existing directors, housing counselors, and case managers will help with the training, along with a newly hired child services coordinator with some new areas of competency.
“The new space will allow us to leverage what we’ve always done, but in a way that will be different and make it even more impactful moving forward,” said Cassi.
The shelter properties in Hyannis, Bourne, and Cataumet will be remodeled into single room occupancy and studio apartments, creating additional opportunities and adding attainable housing to the region’s inventory. A housing resource center will also be created in Cataumet, one of three regional centers in addition to our Hyannis and Orleans locations.
Learn more about Housing Assistance’s shelters and homeless services at haconcapecod.org/program-services/shelters-andhomeless-services.
We’re proud to support Housing Assistance Corp.
We’re committed to supporting HAC’s mission to empower individuals, foster community connections, and increase affordable housing opportunities throughout Cape Cod and the Islands.
LeClair Village Opens to Residents
State and local officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in October at LeClair Village, a new threebuilding community in Mashpee featuring 39 affordable rental units. LeClair Village was developed through a partnership between Housing Assistance and Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH).
LeClair Village is on town-owned land and features 14 onebedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom units, and 4 threebedroom apartments, which will serve low- and moderateincome households. The property is named after Mary LeClair, a longtime champion of housing issues on Cape Cod and a former board member at Housing Assistance, who continues to advocate for housing and other causes at the age of 90.
“The future is bright for the families and individuals who will move into LeClair Village, knowing that they now have a safe and stable place to call home,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “There is still much work to be done across the region, but today in Mashpee we take a moment to celebrate this victory and the inspiring example of Mary LeClair. This development represents the reality of our strategic vision to increase the Cape’s housing stock by consistently maintaining 200 units in the development pipeline, a goal our current capital campaign has been established to support.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Keating praised the collaborative effort that led to the completion of LeClair Village. “Mary is at the center of this, and to call it a village shows the cohesiveness that brings us together,” he said. “Mary’s a person who brings people together and she’s a person who brings people together to get things done. The second part of that’s not as easy as the first.”
POAH, a frequent project collaborator with the Housing Assistance, served as lead developer of LeClair Village. Housing Assistance and POAH have partnered on nine housing projects over the last 15 years, building a total of 214 units to date with 164 units in the pipeline, including a 42-unit project under construction at Cape View Way in Sagamore Beach.
Learn more about our Housing Development projects at haconcapecod.org/about/housing-development.
The ribbon’s been cut and LeClair Village in Mashpee is open for occupancy.
Mary LeClair with Village resident Tricia Stone and her son.
Rasa String Quartet Pulls at the Heart Strings in Notes for Change
Art met advocacy in a November 2nd collaboration between the Cape Symphony and Housing Assistance. Between classical pieces performed by the Rasa String Quartet, five actors spoke about the facts and emotions behind Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) and Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) sentiments.
The event was organized by Richard Chwastiak, Cape Symphony’s Manager of External Affairs, as part of a MASSCreative fellowship. “We want to marry art and advocacy to inspire empathy and really pull at the heart strings,” he said.
The goal was to raise awareness about the housing crisis and provide some guidance about how to respond. The music beautifully conveyed the passions, tensions and hopes associated with the housing crisis. Pieces included William Grant Still’s “Summerland,” Joaquín Turina’s “Prayer of the Bullfighter” and Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet Op. 13 No. 2 in A Minor, mvt. 1, Adagio - Allegro vivace.
Chwastiak said the Symphony is well aware of Cape Cod’s housing crisis. Over 90 percent of the Symphony’s performers commute from off-Cape. Chwastiak hopes to replicate the recent performance and bring it to other communities across the Cape to spread awareness and inspire change.
Learn more about Rich Chwastiak’s MASSCreative fellowship here: masscreative.org/learn-1/richard-chwastiakfellow
The Rasa String Quartet performance was part of a fellowship project aimed at creating change. (photo by Paul Blackmore/courtesy of Cape Symphony)
Rental Assistance Program Expands to Orleans
A new rental assistance program will assist the Town of Orleans in addressing housing affordability and increase empowerment for households in the town.
Funded by the Orleans Affordable Housing Trust and administered by Housing Assistance, the program offers up to $350 a month to eligible households for 12 to 36 months. A similar program in Brewster is now in its third year.
“After administering the Town of Brewster program for the last 3 years with success and full enrollment, we are excited to partner with the Town of Orleans to bring the same level of success and support to Orleans residents,” said Cassi Danzl, Chief Operating Officer at Housing Assistance.
Similar to Housing Assistance’s THRIVE program, participants in the Orleans Rental Assistance program will work with Housing Assistance staff on financial goals through the HUD Certified Housing Counseling Program. Households will set goals and work on financial empowerment. Applicants must be currently paying more than 30% of their income toward rent, among other requirements.
“We’re pleased to support the Town of Orleans Rental Assistance program. It’s wonderful that towns see the impact they can have on making housing more affordable for some of their residents,” said Heidi Archibald, Housing Assistance’s Senior Director of Housing and Community Education Center & Leased Housing. For more information, visit haconcapecod.org/thrive.
Eastern Bank Foundation Supports Housing
In September, the Eastern Bank Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to Housing Assistance for its capital campaign. To date, this is our largest contribution from a private foundation for this campaign.
The Eastern Bank Foundation has supported Housing Assistance since 2006 through grants for our homeless shelters, foreclosure prevention counseling and the Big Fix. This latest grant is their largest single contribution in their almost 20-year history with us.
“Eastern Bank Foundation is happy to support the good works of Housing Assistance. We understand the dire need for affordable housing in the Cape Cod region,” said Nancy Stager, President & CEO, Eastern Bank Foundation.
With nine housing development projects in the pipeline and a $125 million investment, the House Assistance $5 million capital campaign will bridge the gap to help complete these projects and provide quality housing to 575 people.
“The creation of 250 affordable units over the next three years is critical to our workforce being able to live, stay and work on Cape Cod,” she said. “We are part of this community and investing in it is of utmost importance to us.”
To learn more about our Capital Campaign, visit haconcapecod.org/50th-anniversary/capital-campaign.
255 Independence Drive
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-771-5400
haconcapecod.org
