November 2025 Newsletter

Live, Work, Thrive

Your Update. Your Impact.

A Note from Jay Coburn, CDP President & CEO

Housing on the Lower Cape: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore Any Longer

Ask any business owner on the Lower and Outer Cape about the biggest barrier to success, and you’ll hear the same blunt truth: employees can’t afford to live here. The cost of housing—or the simple lack of available housing—is strangling our local economy and eroding the fabric of community life.

This crisis hit home for us this month at the Community Development Partnership. Just last month, we proudly announced the hiring of our new Business & Credit Program Manager, Kwaku “KO” Ofori. KO, a Ghanaian immigrant with an MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College, brought over a decade of experience supporting entrepreneurs and running loan programs in his East African homeland. He was exactly the kind of dynamic, mission-driven talent our region desperately needs.

And yet, he’s gone. KO was forced to leave—taking a nearly identical position with the Franklin County Community Development Corporation in Greenfield—because he could not find safe, affordable, year-round housing on the Lower Cape. This story is not unique. It’s playing out again and again across our towns. Each time, our businesses, nonprofits, and public services lose valuable workers. Each time, our community weakens.

We can no longer treat this as someone else’s problem. At the CDP, we are proud of the strides we’ve made to expand the supply of affordable homes. The pipeline of new projects on the Outer Cape—adding more than 150 new affordable units by 2026—is a victory for all of us. But it’s not enough. Not nearly enough.

If we want a future where families, workers, and small businesses can thrive, we must act boldly and creatively now. We need zoning reform that encourages year-round housing. We need to mobilize local and regional resources to convert vacant and underutilized properties in our village centers into multi-family housing. We need every town, every municipal leader, and every resident to recognize that housing is not just a policy issue—it’s the foundation of community itself.

At the CDP, we will keep fighting. But we can’t do it alone. The future of the Lower and Outer Cape depends on our collective courage to break old patterns and build the homes our neighbors—and our economy—need to survive.

Jay Coburn

President & Chief Executive Officer

Additional CITC Credits Available

With CITC, Your Support Goes Even Further

Thanks to our successful utilization of the Community Investment Tax Credit program, the State has awarded us an additional $100,000 in credits. With only $20,000 in credits left from our initial allocation for 2025, the additional credits will ensure that we don’t run out. Unused credits, which are good for 3 years, can be carried over to next year.

If you plan on making a gift this year of $1,000 or more and have not asked us to reserve tax credits, please do so as soon as possible by contacting Chief Advancement Officer, Jamie Bearse at jbearse@capecdp.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITC PROGRAM

Housing Matters

Investing in Recovery: Canal House Receives $75,000 Grant for Critical Renovations

The Community Development Partnership (CDP) is proud to announce a $75,000 grant award from Charlesbank Homes Foundation to support essential renovations at Canal House, the only sober living facility serving the Lower and Outer Cape. This funding marks a significant step forward in ensuring the continued availability of safe, affordable housing for individuals in recovery.

A Lifeline for the Community

Since its founding in 1996, Canal House has provided a stable, sober living environment for over 200 residents working to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. Located in Orleans, the facility offers more than just housing; it’s a place of healing, support, and second chances. With on-site guidance and wraparound services provided through partnerships with the Duffy Health Center and the Homeless Prevention Council, residents receive clinical care, peer support, financial counseling, and access to vital resources.

Preserving a Historic Space with a Vital Mission

Housed in a building dating back to the 1890s, once the headquarters of the Marconi Wireless Station, Canal House required urgent repairs to remain safe and functional. The CDP’s 2024 Capital Plan and a 2023 Capital Needs Assessment identified several critical upgrades, including:

Sewer connection to meet modern infrastructure standards and environmental requirements

Roof replacement to protect against Cape Cod’s harsh weather

Exterior envelope repairs to improve energy efficiency and structural integrity

ADA-accessible bathroom renovation to ensure inclusivity for residents with physical challenges

These improvements, funded primarily by the Charlesbank Homes Foundation grant, will not only preserve the building’s historic character but also enhance its ability to serve the community for years to come.

Read more about the Canal House Renovations.

Meet Canal House Resident, Matthew Reed

Canal House: A Foundation for Recovery and Renewal

For Cape Cod native Matt Reed, the journey to sobriety wasn’t just about quitting substances, it was about rebuilding trust, stability, and a sense of self. Raised between Dennis and Yarmouth, he spent most of his early life on the Cape, finishing high school in Dartmouth. After graduation, he pursued music while working in retail, eventually spending a decade as a traveling visual merchandiser for Ocean State Job Lot.

Missing the Cape, Matt moved back. But addiction slowly took hold. By his mid-20s, he lost his job due to substance use and began a long struggle with unstable housing and financial insecurity. “I was getting into relationships just for housing,” he shared. “I was technically homeless. I always had a place to crash, but never a place of my own.”

From 2010 to 2020, he worked in the restaurant industry, often in management roles. Despite professional success, alcoholism derailed his progress. In 2021, he began seeking recovery in earnest. After short stays in Falmouth at Gosnold and Emerson House, he found Canal House in Orleans, the only sober-living home on the Lower and Outer Cape, and everything began to change.

“Canal House was the only place with a bed near my family in Harwich,” he said. “It was like everything lined up perfectly. I started going to AA, got a job right away, and things just started falling into place.”

At Canal House, he found more than shelter. He found structure, accountability, and a community that believed in him.

“I used to hide from landlords when I couldn’t pay rent,” Matt admitted. “But here, I learned to face problems head-on. Cindi Maule, CDP’s Chief Property Management Officer, worked with me on a payment plan. Canal House “gave me a base—a foundation for everything else. A job, an address, a place to receive mail. It gave me the space to rebuild my family relationships. It gave me my life back.”

Supporting Local Business: 30 Years of Microloans

Thirty Years of Opportunity: How the CDP Microloan Program Has Helped Cape Cod Businesses Thrive

Thirty years ago, the Community Development Partnership (CDP) launched a bold initiative to support small businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape—those with big dreams but limited access to traditional financing. Today, we celebrate the legacy of the CDP Microloan Program, which has become a cornerstone of economic opportunity in our region.

Since its inception, the program has provided over $4.6 million in loans to 260 entrepreneurs and small business owners across eight Cape towns. From the fishing docks of Provincetown to the artisan shops of Wellfleet, these funds have helped launch startups, expand operations, and sustain livelihoods.

But behind every loan is a story. A story of resilience, creativity, and community. Since 2017, we’ve tracked that 58 loans went to startups and 100 established businesses. One-hundred and sixteen recipients identified as female, and 81 were low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals.

Our portfolio includes 65 fishing and aquaculture businesses, reflecting the Cape’s deep connection to the sea. We’ve helped secure groundfish qualifying permits, SPAT loans (aquaculture), supported scallop lease-to-buy loans, as well as a scallop qualifying permit. Our next largest sectors are retail (non-food), service, and food-related businesses.

As we celebrate 30 years of lending, we reflect on the hundreds of businesses that have grown, survived, and thrived thanks to this program. The CDP Microloan Program isn’t just about money, it’s about belief. Belief in the power of small businesses to shape communities, create jobs, and build a vibrant local economy.

Here’s to the next 30 years of opportunity, innovation, and impact.

Donor Spotlight

Four Years of Generosity:

St. Christopher’s Outreach Fund Champions Community Development Partnership

For four consecutive years, the Outreach Fund Committee of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church has made generous grants to the Community Development Partnership (CDP), a testament to their deep commitment to strengthening the Lower and Outer Cape communities.

The CDP’s mission to support local businesses and advocate for the housing needs of the people who power them aligns closely with the Outreach Fund Committee’s focus on housing and economic stability. Through its grants, St. Christopher’s Outreach Fund has helped CDP advance its work not only within the community but also in collaboration with local government officials, ensuring that the voices of working families and small business owners are heard and supported.

This sustained partnership reflects the Outreach Fund Committee’s belief in long-term investment and advocacy. Their support has helped CDP continue to build a resilient, inclusive economy, one where housing and opportunity go hand in hand.

Through its ongoing support of CDP and other vital organizations, the Outreach Fund Committee of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church continues to be a driving force for positive change, locally and globally. We are grateful for their ongoing support for the CDP and their commitment to improving the lives of others locally and around the world

CDP Out in the Community

CDP Seeks Community Input

The Community Development Partnership (CDP) is creating a 6-year plan to strengthen housing, support small businesses, and improve year-round community life on the Lower and Outer Cape.

Your input will help ensure our work reflects what matters most to you and your family.

SHAPE the Future - TAKE the Survey

Celebrating 40 Years of Impact with Mass Housing Partnership

CDP CEO Jay Coburn and CDP’s Chief Program Officer, Andrea Aldana, recently had the honor of attending the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Mass Housing Partnership (MHP) in Boston. MHP is a public nonprofit that plays a vital role in expanding access to affordable housing across Massachusetts. The organization works in close partnership with the governor, legislature, civic leaders, and community organizations, including the CDP.

At the event, Jay was deeply moved to be featured in a video highlighting MHP’s legacy and its influence on our work at CDP. MHP was the inspiration behind our Lower Cape Housing Institute, and over the past eight years, we've proudly collaborated to train more than 450 elected and appointed municipal leaders in housing advocacy and policy.

If you're passionate about housing equity and community-driven solutions, we invite you to watch the seven-minute video shown at the Celebration. Jay’s remarks begin at 4:02.

Cooperative Fund of the Northeast Panel on Employee Ownership

CDP’s Director of Business & Credit Programs, Pam Andersen recently served as a panelist on a webinar presented by the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast. Pam shared her experience with the NETI fellowship and insights from our work with community businesses considering succession.

Rich Earth Summit

Talitha Abramsen, CDP’s Lower Cape Housing and ADU Resource Center Manager, spoke at the 11th Annual Rich Earth Summit, highlighting how innovative wastewater solutions can unlock affordable housing opportunities, particularly Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Her presentation marked the first time housing was featured at the Summit, which traditionally focuses on science and technical issues.

“It’s so important that you are communicating the connection between housing affordability and wastewater management,” said Brian Horsley of MASSTC. “If we want affordable housing, then we need affordable wastewater management.”

Julia Cavicchi, Education Director with the Rich Earth Institute noted, “Talitha's talk brought an essential additional perspective to the conversation, highlighting how innovative wastewater technologies are not only powerful tools for protecting the environment, but also for unlocking new pathways for affordable housing.... She demonstrated the power of connecting the dots between often siloed sectors--including policy, technological innovation, and planning. Her framing of affordable housing as a key driver for wastewater innovation resonated strongly with the Summit participants.”

Harwich Housing Fair

CDP’s Housing Advocacy Program Manager, Pelinda Deegan, participated in Harwich’s Housing Fair.

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