|
Hello Homeless Prevention.
I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful summer season.
Here at HPC, we’ve been very busy expanding our programs, adding staff, and continuing to meet the growing needs of our community.
We are busy wrapping up another successful year of our Backpack to School program just in time for the new school year. We have distributed more than 350 (and counting!) high-quality backpacks filled with all the supplies children need to start the school year successfully. Families continue to sign up their children as the school year gets underway.
Our 2024 fiscal year, which ended on June 30th, was a great success! Special events and sponsorship had more participation, which helped us to raise more funds and awareness throughout the community. Thanks to you, our donors, and numerous grant partners, we had another outstanding year of fundraising, enabling us to serve everyone who needs our help.
We hope you’ll continue to support us this year as we strive to expand our services, and ensure that all community members can access our critical prevention services to remain stably housed and financially secure.
Every bit of help matters at HPC -- whether you donate a box of crayons for a backpack, form a team for our Walk for Home, rally your athletic club to support a fundraising initiative, volunteer your valuable time, or make a financial contribution to one of our programs. Your generous support allows us to continue providing our vital prevention services to our community that help our local residents thrive.
On behalf of our entire team and Board of Directors, thank you for making our mission possible with your support, and enjoy these last few days of summer!
| |
|
This June, we celebrated our 6th Annual Walk for Home. The weather was perfect, and we had our largest turnout yet, with over 155 supporters eager to walk in Chatham and Provincetown to raise funds and awareness for our mission.
Veteran chairs Jen Whitaker and Amanda De Oliveira led the Provincetown Walk with enthusiasm and expertise, resulting in 100 supporters gathering in the Provincetown town hall square to kick off the sunny stroll down Commercial Street and back.
In Chatham, Sheryl Wolff led the charge, welcoming 55 supporters in front of St. Christopher’s Church before they set off down Main Street to the lighthouse and back..
We happily met and exceeded our goal of $60,000 this year. We are grateful to all who helped make this year’s walk so successful! We could not do it without your support!
| |
|
A Success Story
Meet Marissa. She came to HPC through the REACH program after a workplace accident left her injured and out of work. This incident motivated her to pursue her dream of becoming a birth doula. Upon hearing about REACH from a friend, she applied and was accepted into the 2023 cohort.
With the commitment and accountability fostered by the REACH program, Marissa identified the hurdles she needed to overcome to achieve her goal. By the end of the program, she was well on her way to becoming a birth doula. The stipend she received as a REACH graduate helped her pay for her classes and certification, and purchase a computer to launch her doula business.
| |
Case Manager Janet and Marissa | |
|
However, shortly after celebrating her successes, Marissa and her partner received a notice from their landlord giving them sixty days to move out of their home of six years. Suddenly facing housing insecurity, Marissa turned to her HPC case manager, Janet, for help. Janet worked tirelessly with Marissa and her family to find new housing. Just two days before they were to become homeless, Marissa received a call that her family had been awarded a subsidized affordable four-bedroom rental house.
Due to their housing challenges, Marissa put her career goals on hold. Once settled into her new home, she applied for a job at Duffy Health Center as an active addiction and recovery coach in the Moms Do Care program, which supports pregnant and parenting young women recovering from addiction. Her experience as a birth doula made her confident this role was a good fit.
After starting her new job, Marissa identified a need for a doula program within the Moms Do Care program. While other programs across the state offer doula services, Duffy Health Center did not. Using the goal-setting skills she learned in the REACH program, Marissa worked towards this new goal and now holds the title of the only doula on Cape Cod who can take MassHealth patients. This allows her to provide doula services to the young women supported by the Moms Do Care program.
Marissa is now in a much better place in her life, attributing her success to the support she received from HPC, both through the REACH program and the “validating, affirming, and very supportive” services from her Case Manager.
| |
|
Case Manager Jen accepting a grant award on behalf of HPC from the Cape and
Islands United Way
| |
| |
|
Case Managers Dottie and Janet with Jimmy Tingle
at a event for Chatham Ecumenical Council for the Homeless
| | |
|
|
Staff appreciation whale
watch outing
| |
|
Affordable Homes Act
Massachusetts has made history with Governor Healy’s signing of the Affordable Homes Act
| | |
|
This critical legislation authorizes up to 5.1 Billion dollars including initiatives such as:
- State Office of Fair Housing;
- Accessory Dwelling units (ADUs) by right;
- Seasonal Community Designation (which will support our region);
- Momentum Fund to accelerate mixed income housing developments;
- Homeownership Production Tax Credit (to add more homeownership opportunities);
- Supportive Housing Subsidy Pool Program (to foster the creation of supportive housing)
| |
Maura Healey makes history | |
|
This legislation will help to create and preserve tens of thousands of homes for Massachusetts residents, and will help us to carry out our mission of keeping the people in our community stably housed.
Many thanks to all who advocated to make the Affordable Homes Act possible, and for the countless local residents and housing advocates who have been tireless in their efforts to address our housing crisis.
| |
|
Jennifer joined HPC’s Case Management Team in June 2024. Prior to coming to HPC, she had worked for 15 years in non-profit agencies, supporting the families & individuals on Cape Cod. She has extensive knowledge in navigating housing options, child & family services, and mental health support systems.
For the past few years Jennifer has been working with residents of the Lower Cape area and is looking forward to continuing to build upon those relationships while working in collaboration with other area agencies. She believes collaboration is the key to providing safe and secure housing for all.
| |
| |
|
|
- Administrative and Development Associate
| |
|
A fun, flexible family friendly work environment
CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY
| |
HPC Funder Spotlight: Cape Cod Five | |
Over many years, Cape Cod 5 has demonstrated its commitment to supporting and enhancing the vibrancy and vitality of the Cape Cod community through its support of local nonprofit organizations. HPC has been fortunate to have a long-time relationship with them. | |
|
|
“Cape Cod 5 is one of those local businesses you can count on to invest in our community. And they are not only doing it with dollars, but with their time as well. We are appreciative of their continued commitment to our work.”
– Hadley Luddy, HPC CEO
| |
|
Through its Charitable Giving program, Cape Cod 5 has supported HPC in a variety of important ways. A recent two-year grant supported HPC’s purchase of new office space. This generous investment is helping sustain the long-term growth of our organization.
We now have more space for our growing staff and client base, as well as for special programming. The new location also offers improved visibility, and access for clients who rely on public transportation. The space has also become a hub for bringing our clients and community together.
| |
|
In addition, Cape Cod 5’s annual event sponsorships are helping HPC leverage even more fundraising dollars. Their continued support for HPC’s personalized case management program has enabled us to provide tools to support local residents to keep their housing and attain financial independence.
“Cape Cod 5 is proud to continue our partnership with HPC as they work to enhance their presence in our communities,” said Bert Talerman, President of Cape Cod 5. “As part of our shared commitment to the health and vitality of our neighbors, we’re glad to support HPC’s expansion to greater support their mission of empowering individuals with the tools, resources and guidance needed to keep their housing and achieve financial independence.”
| |
Donor Spotlight: Orleans Tennis Association | |
Nancy Brotherton and Mike Peters on the tennis court | |
|
“It’s time we do something for the community, and 2024 will be our start,” wrote Michael Peters to his fellow Orleans Tennis Association members in his 2023 season wrap-up letter. “We will be launching a campaign to raise funds for the Homeless Prevention Council of the Lower Cape’s eight towns. The key to HPC is that they prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless. They keep people in their homes. The key action word is Prevention.”
In early fall 2023, Nancy Brotherton and Michael Peters, members of the group, visited our headquarters to share the exciting news that we had been selected as the recipients of the OTA’s philanthropic initiative.
| |
The campaign has been a success, with many OTA members contributing to the cause. We applaud the members, especially Michael and Nancy, for their innovative approach to raising funds and awareness for our critical work. | |
|
A special shout out to Mike, Nancy and the rest of the team members.
We appreciate your support and hope your 2024 tennis season has been a great one!
| |
|
In its 23rd remarkable year, our Backpack to School program has once again achieved outstanding success, benefiting over 350 of our youngest community members. Children from pre-K to 12th grade returned to school with confidence, equipped with quality backpacks filled with customized school supplies and gift cards for new shoes.
This initiative not only ensures that our students are well-prepared for the academic year ahead but also supports parents in our community by easing their financial burden and providing them with a sense of relief that their children are ready to succeed.
| |
| |
|
Our community came together, contributing generously through both school supply donations and financial support. Over 10 collection box locations across the Lower and Outer Cape facilitated this effort. We also engaged with community members at Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown farmers markets, as well as public events throughout the Lower and Outer Cape. These interactions not only garnered support for Backpack to School but also highlighted our other vital programs that sustain our community. | |
|
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers. They tirelessly stuffed each and every backpack for our students, making this program a resounding success for yet another year. We are immensely grateful for all the support we received.
Thank you to everyone involved—donors, volunteers and other supporting businesses and individuals—for making a difference in the lives of our community’s children!
| |
|
A shout out to Wequassett Resort & Golf Club!
This year, we were honored to be the recipients of a corporate retreat team building event at the Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, aimed at supporting our Backpack to School program.
The event resulted in a generous donation of 160 brand new L.L. Bean backpacks, each packed with essential school supplies and a personal note of encouragement from the event participants.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Wequassett and all who made this event possible.
| |
|
|
Help young adults thrive in our community
Host a young adult, aged 18 to 24, at risk of or experiencing homelessness in your home for 4 to 12 months!
| | |
|
|
HPC pairs at risk or homeless young adults with community members who have underutilized space in their homes.
In the Host Home, youth can safely focus on pursuing their housing, academic, employment, and personal goals.
| |
|
Receive as needed support to ensure a successful host period.
| |
|
Provide safe shelter for a young person while they work towards stability.
| |
Receive a $1000 stipend per month to offset any increased expenses. | |
|
Your support is vital in helping us maintain the essential services we offer to our community.
Please consider donating today.
| | | | |
