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A NEWSLETTER FROM HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Housing Assistance Celebrates Cornerstone Hyannis Groundbreaking

On a sunny May 1, state and local leaders, project partners, and community members joined the Housing Assistance team to mark an exciting milestone: the construction of Cornerstone Hyannis. Located at 268 Stevens Street in Hyannis, the new 50-unit attainable homeownership community sits on a previously blighted lot.

“Thank you for coming to celebrate the creation of the first homeownership project on Cape Cod developed specifically for our workforce and the missing middle,” said Alisa Magnotta, Housing Assistance CEO.

Cornerstone Hyannis is the first project under the Cornerstone Homes Cape Cod flag, a new Housing Assistance initiative to create attainable, high-quality homes for middle-income buyers on the Cape.

This is a model for homeownership that we can replicate across the region.

State Sen Julian Cyr

Marking this groundbreaking for Cornerstone Hyannis is exciting because we can see this long-planned project finally taking shape,” said Magnotta. “Cornerstone Homes is about creating opportunities like this that allow people to live close to where they work and contribute to the long-term success of their communities.”

Located within a short walk of Main Street Hyannis, the transit-oriented development includes a mix of 18 onebedroom, 27 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom units. The site aligns with smart growth planning on Cape Cod, as it makes use of previously developed and underutilized land while improving the site’s environmental conditions and protecting the existing natural resources.

“With Cornerstone Hyannis, we are taking a longtime vacant lot and creating new opportunities for Cape Codders to own a home right in the heart of Hyannis,” said David Quinn, vice president of real estate development at Housing Assistance. “Because the units will be sold to middle-income buyers, the new homes will be of benefit to people who may not qualify for traditional ‘affordable housing’ but also can’t afford homes on the open market.”

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Housing Assistance VP of real estate development David Quinn (fourth from left), CEO Alisa Magnotta, board chair Bill Bogdanovich, and state Sen. Julian Cyr join funders and partners to mark a ceremonial groundbreaking of Cornerstone Hyannis

Creating a Road Map for Our Next Five Years

Every five years when we enter the strategic planning process, it provides an opportunity to step back and reflect on what we are hearing from our community, what trends we are observing in the housing market and what we need to achieve as an organization to meet the moment.

In 2025, we saw a 40 percent increase in the number of individuals served by Housing Assistance – a leap from 6,500 to 9,000 people seeking support. We are seeing the need increase on every rung of the housing ladder, with 550 individuals experiencing homelessness, inflated rental and utility costs, and the outmigration of those who want to put down roots but cannot afford a home here.

The strategic planning process is our opportunity to create a blueprint to address these needs, from shelter to affordable rentals to the creation of attainable opportunities for homeownership We have done this planning work at Housing Assistance through ongoing conversations with our board, staff and community partners

Many of our discussions have pointed to the same reality: the housing challenges facing our region are growing more complex and a path forward requires both immediate action and long-term focus At the same time, we spoke to people about what makes the organization strong They pointed to our human-centered approach and the breadth of services we provide to meet people where they are with empathy, respect and a commitment to providing fair access and opportunity

These considerations helped shape the development of our new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and the direction of our work in the years ahead

This plan reflects the urgency of this moment and the values that have guided Housing Assistance for decades At its core is the belief that a community can only support people at every stage of life when those who make it run can live and build their lives here Housing plays such a central role in the community because it is directly tied to health, financial security and long-term stability

Creating the plan

Creating the new strategic plan was a sixmonth process, according to chief of staff Marissa Cyr

“We worked with a consultant and that helped us make sure we were going through all the steps and getting all the necessary stakeholder input,” she said “We spent a lot of time getting input from staff In addition to surveys, Alisa and I spent time joining department team meetings. We had a steering committee with key staff from different departments giving feedback We also got feedback from our board and external folks, especially in the housing development space, around what opportunities or creative ideas or solutions are out there to create more housing. It was interesting to hear people’s feedback on what they think we’re doing well, where we can improve, where there’s gaps in our services or how we’re able to help clients.”

In the years ahead, our work will focus on five interconnected goals. We will:

Deepen and better connect our support for individuals and families by implementing longitudinal support systems and enhanced programming;

Build and sustain a diversity of partnerships and funding sources that will allow us to create a lasting impact well into the future;

Sharpen how we tell our story so more people understand our mission and can benefit from our services;

Preserve and create more year-round housing for our most vulnerable community members through innovative development, programming and financing models; and

Continue to invest in a strong, supported team and effective operations, because when our people and systems are equipped to do their best work, we can deliver deeper impact across every part of our mission

Some of this work will happen behind the scenes and some of it will be visible in the programs we grow, the housing we help create and the conversations we lead with our legislative partners and the broader community.

We walk alongside clients as they navigate complex systems, and that perspective shapes how we support individuals and families and how we speak up and boldly advocate for changes at the local, state and national levels. All that we do is aimed at creating and preserving pathways to stable, attainable year-round housing that empowers individuals and families to stay rooted and thrive in our community.

I am grateful to everyone who has helped develop this plan and to all who continue to support our mission We look forward to sharing more in the months ahead as this work takes shape

Thank you,

Alisa Magnotta, CEO

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River

The partnership between Housing Assistance and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River began in 2016, when Catholic Charities assumed management of the regional homeless shelter in Hyannis. Originally opened by Housing Assistance in 1984 as the NOAH shelter, its transition to St. Joseph’s House marked the beginning of a strong, collaborative effort to support individuals experiencing homelessness.

Catholic Charities’ mission is grounded in the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger and sheltering the homeless. Across the Diocese, the organization manages five individual shelters, two family shelters and 14 additional housing programs, with a proven record of accountability and effective service delivery.

Today, that partnership includes close coordination between St. Joseph’s House staff and Housing Assistance’s outreach team – our “boots on the ground” in the community. Each day, outreach staff connect with individuals experiencing homelessness, building trust and guiding them toward stability through access to resources, health care and human connection.

At St. Joseph’s House, guests receive not only safe shelter but also access to essential services. Working alongside Housing Assistance’s team and other providers, Catholic Charities delivers case management, housing search assistance, behavioral health care, employment training and other supports.

The shelter’s population challenges common assumptions. More than 40% of guests are employed – even more in the summer months – 84% are from Cape Cod, and many are older adults over 62, facing health and mobility challenges. They are the working poor, struggling to afford housing in an increasingly constrained market.

Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance, and Susan Mazzarella, CEO of Catholic Charities, were interviewed live, explaining the shelter move.

You can listen here: bit.ly/4tTQuzA

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As housing challenges intensify, plans are underway to relocate St. Joseph’s House to a purpose-built facility at 460 West Main Street, the former headquarters of Housing Assistance.

Faces of St. Joseph’s House: Oskar (above) and Janet are two current guests

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The current site at 77 Winter Street was never designed as a shelter and has deteriorated after decades of hard use It presents serious accessibility challenges, particularly for older guests, and has limited facilities for the number of guests it serves

The new site, just 1 35 miles away in the same downtown corridor, will serve up to 50 individuals while offering expanded services, including on-site medical and behavioral health care, improved accessibility and enhanced programming – all aimed at achieving better outcomes

Town Meeting Victories

At deadline, most Cape Cod towns had completed their spring town meetings and there were many reasons to celebrate Town meeting voters in Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, and Truro approved providing Community Preservation funds toward renovation costs for turning Housing Assistance’s former offices at 460 West Main Street into a year-round emergency shelter

Town meeting members in Dennis and Brewster voted to approve the Seasonal Community designation, which offers towns an array

Through this integrated approach – combining shelter, services, and long-term support – St Joseph’s House remains a critical community resource, helping individuals move from crisis to stability and toward permanent housing

For more information about the relocation of St Joseph’s House, visit: haconcapecod.org/st-josephs-house-shelter

Want to stand up for housing? Save the Locals is an educational campaign from Housing to Protect Cape Cod – sharing facts, local voices, and real solutions to the housing crisis Learn more about what’s actually causing Cape Cod’s housing shortage, the high cost of doing thi d ll b ti solutions that can move who live and work here

Visit housingtoprotectcapecod.org/ housing-facts-education to learn more.

CORNERSTONE,

“Groundbreakings are my favorite days because we get to actually see tangible progress on the toughest issue facing Cape Codders and Islanders,” said State Sen. Julian Cyr. “This is a model for home ownership that we can replicate across the region.”

The three-story building is designed to complement the scale of the surrounding area and will feature modern finishes and a wide range of amenities, including a community lounge that opens onto an enclosed patio with grills and a fire pit, sitting areas on each floor level, secure mail and storage spaces, exterior bike storage, two elevators, and highefficiency electric systems.

Ann Rebello, a Housing Assistance board member and 30-year employee, said she knows the generational impact these homes will have for buyers. “When I was a young, single mom, I never dreamed that I would be a homeowner,” she said. Through the help of a first-time homebuyers program, she was able to buy a house that has provided shelter for her parents, daughter, and grandchildren. “It felt like nothing short of a miracle. I still pull into my driveway and I’m filled with joy and gratitude that I own a home.”

Construction is expected to be completed in summer of 2027, and sales of the units will be conducted through a lottery administered by Housing Assistance. Unit prices start at $278,000 for one-bedroom units at 100 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). The income limit for the development goes up to 120 percent of AMI, except for four units that will be sold at market rate with no income restriction. The project is designed by SV Design and constructed by Dellbrook | JKS with engineering by DiPrete Engineering.

Interested buyers are encouraged to visit Cornerstone Homes Cape Cod at CornerstoneHomesCapeCod.com now to begin preparing for homeownership and to learn about upcoming information sessions and homebuyer readiness programs.

State Sen. Julian Cyr, David Quinn, and Ann Rebello were among the speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony

Staff and supporters had a chance to sign a truss that will be used in the construction of Cornerstone

Housing Development Update: 680 and Counting

As of this spring, Housing Assistance has built 680 residential units with another 284 in the pipeline. Here’s an update on several projects.

In Brewster, Spring Rock Village has reached a major milestone with $6.7 million in state funding secured in partnership with Preservation of Affordable Housing and the Town of Brewster. The development will create 45 new rental homes for year-round residents, including deeply affordable and workforce units, with several apartments subsidized for very low-income families. Thoughtfully designed and energy-efficient, construction began in March, with homes anticipated to be ready in 2027.

Looking ahead, we’ve recently added two exciting new projects to our development pipeline.

In Chatham, we have been selected to develop Cornerstone Homes Chatham on Stepping Stones Road, which will create 14 thoughtfully designed townhomes for low-, moderate-, and middle-income buyers. We are partnering with the same architectural team behind 107 Main Street in Orleans, bringing a proven, community-centered approach that reflects both quality and local character. Pending funding and permitting, construction could begin in 2027.

In Orleans, the Select Board has approved the transfer of a home on Old Tote Road for redevelopment into four rental homes. The property was sold to the Town by local business owners specifically to support the creation of community housing. The renovation will serve households earning between 80% and 120% of area median income, helping strengthen year-round community life and addressing the region’s “missing middle” housing needs. Once completed, Housing Assistance will add these homes to our property management portfolio, ensuring they remain well maintained and affordable for local residents.

Together, these milestones reflect meaningful momentum. Thanks to the support of our community, meaningful progress continues to unfold across Cape Cod, bringing more families and workers closer to safe, stable, and attainable housing.

Renderings of the Spring Rock Village, left, and Steppings Stones Road developments

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Rockland Trust: ‘Housing Assistance Earns It

Year after Year’

Rockland Trust has been a longtime partner of Housing Assistance, but this year significantly increased its investment as a Leadership Sponsor at the $50,000 giving level

“I think it’s the largest organization we support on Cape Cod,” said John Cotton, vice president for commercial lending with Rockland Trust Company “Like anything else, you have to make your case and you have to fight for funding, and Housing Assistance earns it year after year ”

“It’s a mutually beneficial partnership I think we provide a good service to Housing Assistance, as far as banking services, and Housing Assistance does such a great job in the community Whether it’s counseling, financial assistance or maybe a sheltering situation because a family has fallen on severe hard times, there are so many ways Housing Assistance helps the community.”

Cotton said he’s seen the effect the regional housing crisis has on clients and colleagues, and even in his own family. “I bought my house years ago for $175,000 and neighbors thought I overpaid. Two years later, a house on our street sold for $225,000 and it was smaller than ours. Prices since then have risen so fast, I don’t know how my kids will be able to afford a house unless they take over the family house. How else are they going to do it?”

Cotton has been a Mashpee selectman for over a decade and serves as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 36 in Mashpee. The troop participated in Housing Assistance’s Big Fix event for several years, assisting with home repairs and yard clean-ups in Mashpee, Brewster and Orleans. “Every scout signed up for it immediately and it was the most rewarding event of the year,” he said.

With branches from New Hampshire and Maine to Cape Cod, Rockland Trust supports hundreds of nonprofits. Why did Rockland step up its sponsorship level for Housing Assistance? “Housing Assistance does so many different things for the community,” said Cotton, who is based on Rockland’s Hyannis office. “Whether it’s helping people to start their life with homebuyer counseling or helping them get back on their feet when they have a rough time, it’s an organization that really makes a difference in people’s lives.”

As the housing crisis continues to challenge communities across Cape Cod, partnerships like this are more important than ever. Rockland Trust’s increased investment will help Housing Assistance expand its reach and continue delivering critical services to those who need them most. Together, they are helping to ensure that more individuals and families have a safe, stable place to call home and a stronger foundation for the future.

In November, Rockland Trust representatives presented Housing Assistance with a $10,000 grant in support of our programs

LEGACY GIVING

‘It’s

Very Rewarding When You Help Somebody Who Needs a Hand Up’

Ron Bourgeois bought his first duplex in 1984 when he was 20 years old. He started Bass River Properties in 1994, where he specializes in rentals, residential sales, and property management.

“I’ve put a lot of roofs over people’s heads,” said Bougeois. He guesses that he’s arranged roughly 4,500 leases over the past 30 years, working with Housing Assistance, the Barnstable Housing Authority and other housing agencies. Of those, he says about two-thirds hold Section 8 vouchers, which provide federal rental assistance to low-income households.

“I make money to support my family, and at the same time, I’m able to help people get a home,” he said. “It’s very rewarding when you help somebody who needs a hand up. There’s a lot of people in that situation, and I am proud of helping them. There’s been a lot of situations where I had a little kid say to me, ‘Ronnie, thank you for getting us the apartment.’ I melted for that. That kid’s got me for life. People expect it to be your job, but I love those moments.”

Bass River Properties is a sponsor of Housing Assistance, and Bourgeois has shown additional support by pledging a legacy gift. “We've donated money every year, and I have put in my will that I’m giving a 12th of my estate to Housing Assistance,” he said. “I started with nothing, and now I own 19 buildings. I didn’t always have money, but I’ve worked for it, so it will be a significant gift.”

“We all have a finite time, and once we go, how are we going to be remembered? What kind of impact did we have? I would like to know that I’ve helped some people get homes, that maybe somebody that needed a break got that break. That would be nice.”

Leave a legacy with a planned gift. To learn more, visit haconcapecod.org/ways-to-give/leave-a-legacy

Ron Bourgeois with his family

Housing Lottery Winner Was on Seventh Heaven

Krasimira Banova might be the only person to have taken part in Housing Assistance’s Walk for Hope entirely on her own.

In 2023, she learned about the walk during a visit to Housing Assistance’s Orleans office. She wanted to be part of it, but the walk was scheduled for a day she wasn’t able to attend. Rather than miss out completely, she walked the 3-mile route in Orleans alone on an April day. “I like to walk and hike, but this was special because I was walking for a bigger reason,” she said. “When you volunteer, you feel good. When you give something to somebody, you feel happy.”

A retired telecommunications worker, Banova volunteers for Helping Our Women, a resource center for women living with chronic or serious health conditions in the Outer Cape towns, from Eastham to Provincetown. For years, she moved in and out of seasonal rentals in Provincetown because of the shortage of year-round rentals.

Banova put her name on waiting lists for affordable housing from Brewster to Provincetown. In 2025, she learned that she had won placement for a one-bedroom apartment in Provincetown through a lottery conducted by Housing Assistance.

“I was on seventh heaven. I couldn’t believe it. All that happened, I think, is a miracle. Everybody at Housing Assistance was so kind and welcoming, especially Melissa, my intake coordinator. The people are so nice. They all smile at me and they want to help me.”

As cold and snowy as it was, Banova enjoyed her first winter living in her new home and is looking forward to her first summer there

She lives on Stable Path, in a neighborhood of 23 apartments across 10 buildings, just a short distance from the Cape Cod National Seashore “I feel that I live amongst humans,” she said “We help each other, smile, and greet each other When I go out, I know everybody will say, ‘hello, how are you?’ But the reason I want to stay here at the end of the Cape is nature I belong to two hiking clubs and truly enjoy the landscape It’s a wonderful place ”

Three years after her first visit to Housing Assistance, Banova no longer walks alone She has found both community and a sense of belonging among her neighbors, grounding her life in the place she now calls home Her story is a reminder that when people come together through a walk, a kind word, or a helping hand those small acts can lead to stability, connection, and the feeling of truly belonging

Give Hope Year-Round

This spring, you can Give Hope Where You Live and help neighbors take the next step toward stable housing. Specific needs include donated gift cards to support everyday essentials like groceries and transportation (most requested are $25-50 gift cards for Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart and Uber).

If you prefer to give the gift of time, volunteers are needed across programs to help with childcare, transportation, administrative support and more. Your support creates stability, dignity, and opportunity – right here on Cape Cod.