Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership Update
May 2021
In this newsletter:
  • Upcoming CDP Events
  • 2021 Annual Town Meeting Calendar
  • 6/22: Summer Outer Cape Peer Group Meeting
  • 6/24: Summer Lower Cape Peer Group Meeting
  • Town Updates
  • Housing News
Upcoming CDP Events
Summer Outer and Lower Cape Peer
Group Meetings
Please email us for topic suggestions and ideas for your Summer Peer Group to [email protected].


To register for the Outer Cape Peer Group meeting on Tuesday, June 22nd, click HERE.

To register for Lower Cape Peer Group meeting on Thursday, June 24th, click HERE.
Town Updates
Town of Brewster















www.brewster-ma.gov
Housing Articles included in the Town Meeting Warrant
Article 8 Community Preservation Act Funding
  • Housing Coordinator - $51,096
  • Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, Veterans Home in Dennis - $52,500
  • Habitat for Humanity, Red Top Road Community Housing - $105,000
  • Brewster Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the Rental Assistance Program - $150,000

Article 9 Capital & Special Projects Expenditures
  • Affordable Housing Trust - $150,000

Read the 2021 Town Warrant here.
What else is happening in Brewster?
Financial assistance is currently available for eligible Brewster residents in need. Click below for more information about the Rental & Mortgage Assistance and Brewster COVID Relief Fund.
The Brewster Rental Assistance Program, created by the Brewster Affordable Housing Trust, with Town Community Preservation funds, has resources available for both year round affordability and emergency COVID-19 assistance. Read more here.
In an effort to provide direct and essential support to Brewster residents whose health or well-being have been most immediately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the Town has established a COVID Relief Fund. The Fund focuses on providing financial support to help residents meet their basic needs. Applicants need to have lived in Brewster for 3 months and meet federal standards for assistance and may apply for up to $1,000 for assistance with housing, utilities bills, medical bills, child care including summer programs, and other basic needs. Requests for financial assistance from eligible residents will be voted on by the COVID Relief Fund Committee on a regular basis. Payments will be made directly to the appropriate vendor. All information is kept confidential. For more information please contact Town staff at [email protected] . The COVID Relief Fund; neighbors helping neighbors.
Town of Chatham
June 12th Annual Town Meeting and Housing Articles
  • Article 17 - Acquire and Dispose of Property at 2337 Main Street/0 Jordan’s Trail for Affordable and Attainable Housing 
  • Article 18 - Acquire and Dispose of Property at 0 Main Street/1533 Main Street for Affordable and Attainable Housing
  • Article 19 - Declare as Surplus, Designate and Dispose of the Town-Owned Middle Road Property for Affordable and Attainable Housing
  • Article 20 - Home Rule Petition to Establish a New Housing Trust
  • Article 21 - Home Rule Petition to Establish a Real Property Transfer Fee to Fund Affordable/Attainable Housing
  • Article 22 - Home Rule Petition for the Use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) Funds for Affordable and Attainable Housing up to 200% Area Median Income (AMI)

Source: Town of Chatham
  • Article 32 - FY2021 Community Preservation Fund Appropriations - $140,00
  • Article 33 - Affordable Housing Coordinator - $30,000
  • Article 34 - Feasibility Study for Housing
  • Article 35 - transfer from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance $1,000,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust
  • Article 36 - CPC funding for Habitat for Humanity housing project at 11 George Ryder Rd South
What else is happening in Chatham?

  • Emergency Rental Assistance is available. Applications are through Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC).

Town of Harwich
Annual Town Meeting held outdoors on May 8th
Voters gathered on Saturday morning at the stadium field at Monomoy Regional High School to take action on the 49-article annual town meeting warrant. The Harwich operating budget and the Monomoy school budget both passed, as did an article to install sidewalks from Harwich Port to Saquatucket Harbor. Community Preservation Act housing articles also passed.

Article 27 Appropriate FY 2022 Estimated Annual Revenues of the Community Preservation Act Fund - $161,171

Article 29 Community Preservation Activities under $50,000
  • Lower Cape Housing Institute - $7,500
  • Veteran's Home, Dennis - $15,000

Article 32 Fund a Part-Time Housing Coordinator - $50,000
Source: Cape Cod Times
What else is happening in Harwich?

  • Neighbors to The Royal Apartment project on the corner of Bank and Parallel streets have appealed the planning board’s approval in Barnstable Superior Court.

  • Habitat for Humanity Murray Lane: virtual community kick off event for 6 Habitat Homes on Murray Lane
Join the Celebration
Everyone is welcome! Come and meet new friends and celebrate this life changing event with the families who will purchase the homes they help to build!

For more information contact Tara Cronin, Volunteer and Community Relations Manager, 508-362-3559 ext. 16 or email [email protected].
Town of Orleans
For any questions, contact the Housing Coordinator, Marsha Allgeier.















Source: Town of Orleans
ATM & Special Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 22nd
Article 16 CPA Housing Articles include:

  • Project 1: Community Housing Public Outreach for $10,000
  • Project 2: Affordable Housing Trust Fund for $300,00
  • Project 3: Lower Cape Housing Institute for $7,500

Article 17 Creation of Affordable Housing Units at the "Orleans Cape Cod 5" Property. This article seeks bonding authorization to purchase the affordable housing restriction for 52 of the 62-units. Ten units will be classified as workforce units that can be rented to households up to 120% AMI. 

Article 23 Acquire Governor Prence Properties. This article will fund the purchase of the former Governor Prence Motel and office building properties on Route 6A for general municipal purposes and some affordable housing in the amount of $2,450,000.
What else is happening in Orleans?
Town of Eastham
The Tee-Time Community Survey that ran at the beginning of March 15th is now closed and received more than 3,000 submissions. An update was provided at the May 4th T-Time Committee meeting.







Source: Town of Eastham
CPA Housing Articles Review and Tee-Time Development Initiative Website
The Town Planner presented CPA housing articles for the Select Board's review:

  • Lower Cape Housing Institute funding for $7,500

  • Affordable Housing Trust funding for $300,000

  • Part-time Housing Coordinator funding for $20,000 (split between the town budget and CPA for a total of $40,000)

  • $100,000 funding request for the Orleans Affordable Housing Development
What else is happening in Eastham?
  • With funds from the Town of Eastham CPC, the HECH organization administers a Rental Assistance Program to income-qualified households who live or work in Eastham or who have children attending the Nauset School District. HECH is currently accepting applications for this program.
Town of Wellfleet











Source: Town of Wellfleet
Housing articles and the ADU bylaw hearing continued on May 19th
The Housing Authority voted and approved to recommend two funding articles related to 95 Lawrence Road including: Article 19, Wastewater 95 Lawrence Road Cluster Wastewater Treatment Facility and Article 20 Operating and Maintenance Cost for the 95 Lawrence Road Cluster Wastewater Treatment Facility. Other CPA housing articles recommended for town meeting:
  • Article 22 Affordable Housing Trust funding for $500,000
  • Article 23 Veteran's Home in Dennis funding for $15,000
  • Article 24 Lower Cape Housing Institute funding for $7,500
  • Article 41 Affordable Housing Trust Fund By-law
  • Article 42 Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Bylaw
  • Article 43 Petitioned Article in support of the Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Bylaw change
What else is happening in Wellfleet?
Wellfleet Town Hall. (Photo Nancy Bloom) via Provincetown Independent
The Select Board moved to delay the June 5th Annual Town Meeting until June 26th
The Select Board moved to delay the June 5th annual town meeting until June 26th, with rain dates of June 27, 28, and 29. The town election, which had been posted for June 14th, will be postponed until June 30th, the last possible day for override questions to be approved by voters for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st.
Town of Truro
Select Board approves housing articles for the town meeting warrant

On April 27th, the Select Board reviewed and approved town meeting articles including CPA funding articles for the Affordable Housing Trust for $50,000 and $25,000 for the Housing Consultant. Other housing articles approved include:

  • Petitioned article to increase the Local Rooms Occupancy Excise Tax from 4% to 6%

  • To establish an Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund and to dedicate a percentage of the Local Rooms Occupancy Excise Tax to said fund

Source: Town of Truro
What else is happening in Truro?

  • Another abutter signs onto a lawsuit appealing the zoning board’s granting of a comprehensive permit for an affordable housing development known as the Cloverleaf at 22 Highland Road.
Town of Provincetown
Provincetown held second outdoor meeting on May 1st
More than a dozen people spoke on Article 13, a citizens’ petition to appropriate $136,000 for a new office of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lead petitioner Donna Walker said the allocation could fund salary and benefits for one full-time professional, as well as an assessment that would provide data on access to town resources as well as equity issues in the broader community.

The largest number of “no” votes came on a proposal to borrow $3.5 million to mitigate recurring flooding on Court Street. The measure would pay for a pump station to move rainwater to a retention pond in the rotary planned for the intersection of Shank Painter Road and Route 6. Any overflow would go into the Duck Pond watershed.

Read the Provincetown Independent article here.

Source: Provincetown Independent
Housing Articles

Voters approved all CPA requests including $100,000 transfer to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; $20,000 for the Cape Cod 5 rental development in Orleans; and $100,000 for a pilot program for small forgivable loans of up to $5,000 for homeowner’s assistance with a priority for emergency repairs. 
What else is happening in Provincetown?
  • Patrick Patrick, the owner of Marine Specialties and the chair of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce, has proposed building a seasonal dormitory called “the Barracks” that could house up to 144 people on land his family owns off Route 6.
Housing News
CHAPA Housing Briefs




Source: chapa.org
State Updates
On April 29th, the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved its final FY2022 state budget proposal. The budget includes strong investments in CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities with proposed increases for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, Alternative Housing Voucher Program, Public Housing, Housing Consumer Education Centers, the Tenancy Preservation Program, and DMH Rental Subsidies. The State Senate will debate its budget proposal later this month.
 
DHCD posted a Request for Responses (RFR) for a Fair Housing Initiative to increase housing choice for voucher holders, help fund fair housing enforcement, and address lead paint discrimination across Massachusetts. Funds will also help develop best practices, education, and outreach regarding fair housing. Responses are due on June 16th.