Welcome back to our part-time residents

Summer on the Lower and Outer Cape means many things to the 54,000 people who live year-round in our eight towns. More traffic for sure, but I welcome many more options for eating out than we have in the cold dark months of the winter. And cultural opportunities abound as local theaters and concert venues produce world-class productions and host legendary performers.

One of the things that I love about the summer is the return of the many close friends I have made over my 25 years living here who are part-time residents of our community. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a seasonal resident of Orleans who is acutely aware of our region’s housing crisis and the lack of family-sustaining jobs. We had a lively discussion about the ways in which seasonal residents might contribute to addressing these challenges and the importance of acknowledging that the high rates of home ownership by part-time residents is one of the causes of our housing affordability crisis.

However, it is equally important to celebrate the contributions that part-time residents make to our communities. The CDP’s programs are all aligned with our mission to lead the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here. Financial support from seasonal residents has been an important part of securing the resources needed to offer our programs and services. We also benefit greatly from their expertise, and I can count more than a dozen part-time residents who are experts in the fields of affordable housing and small business development.

So, welcome back, and thanks for being part of what makes our community so rich and special. I welcome more opportunities to work together to build a stronger and healthier year-round community on the Lower Cape.

At the Community Development Partnership, we utilize every tool available to tackle the housing crisis in our region. In addition to creating and advocating for new housing, our Housing Rehabilitation program preserves existing housing for future generations.

Through the Housing Rehabilitation program, qualified residents of Eastham, Truro, and Provincetown can receive a loan of up to $50,000 to pay for critical home repairs. If the homeowner remains in the residence for the term of the 15-year loan, the loan is one hundred percent forgiven. CDP program staff coordinate an assessment of the home and contracts with local vendors for the repairs. Homeowners are supported by the CDP team throughout the entire process at no cost to the homeowner.

The Community Development Partnership’s (CDP) Small Business Technical Assistance Programs are an important resource for businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape. In 2021, we successfully served 236 businesses, but we know there are many more that may need support maintaining and growing their business. The CDP has been increasing its outreach efforts to minority, immigrant, women, and veteran-owned businesses with the goal of bringing our services directly to businesses, rather than waiting for them to reach out to us.

In May, Tricia Murray, Manager of Business and Credit Programs, completed the Business Development Certificate Program offered by Cambridge College, MACDC, Mel King Institute, and Mass Growth Capital Corporation. The program consisted of weekly three-hour sessions over the course of 12 weeks and was attended by representatives of community development corporations and similar organizations from across the Commonwealth. “The certificate program goes hand in hand with our outreach efforts,” says Tricia.

For nearly a decade, the Community Development Partnership (CDP) has been offering its First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) Education program to prepare residents of the Lower and Outer Cape to become homeowners. Topics in the course include information on financing, home inspections, insurance, and finding the right realtor. To date, over 500 prospective homeowners have graduated from the program.

In 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) updated their requirements to become a workshop facilitator and Pelinda Deegan, the CDP’s Housing Advocacy Program Manager, was to begin the certification process in the Spring of 2020, but due to COVID-19, the workshop was canceled. To prevent a lapse in services, the CDP partnered with NeighborWorks Housing Solutions in Quincy Massachusetts to ensure Lower and Outer Cape residents still had access to the program.

Summer is officially here, and the Community Development Partnership is getting ready for A Summer Evening on the Farm!

It will be wonderful to gather once again to mingle with our colleagues and friends, listen to live music, and enjoy fabulous fare including locally shucked oysters, libations, and ice cream!

Enjoy some photos from last year’s event!

August 28th, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Halcyon Farm - 3915 Main Street, Brewster

$100 early bird tickets until August 1st

On Saturday, June 11th, Wellfleet held their Annual Town Meeting, the final meeting on the Lower and Outer Cape. There were several housing-related articles up for a vote this year, all of which passed.

Articles 27-31 allocated Community Preservation Act Funds to various housing causes including Wellfleet's Affordable Housing Trust, the Housing Buy-Down Program, and the CDP's Lower Cape Housing Institute.

Article 36 amended the Affordable Housing Trust bylaw passed at the 2021 Town Meeting to ensure it is in accordance with Massachusetts Law.

Article 44 created and funded an Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund. The fund is restricted to supporting housing for residents earning 80% of the Area Median Income and is financed by receiving 35% of any community impact fees on short-term rentals.

Article 45 created a Mixed-Income Housing Stabilization Fund. This fund will support housing initiatives for the population who makes too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing and is financed using the remaining 65% of the community impact fees for short-term rentals.

Articles 46 and 47 created the Community Impact Fees used to finance the two Housing Stabilization Funds. Article 46 creates a 3% fee on the occupancy of "professionally managed" short-term rentals and Article 47 creates a similar fee on short-term rentals within a two- or three-family dwelling that includes the operator’s primary residence.

For information on articles passed at the other Lower and Outer Cape town meetings please read the summary from our June E-news.

Throughout the month of July, the CDP's proposed housing development at 95 Lawrence Road in Wellfleet will go in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals for approval. This is a great opportunity to show your support for affordable housing in Wellfleet. Meeting dates are TBD but will be available on the town of Wellfleet's website when announced.

To learn more about how you can get involved and advocate for housing in Wellfleet and the rest of the Lower and Outer Cape, contact Community Organizer Mallorey, mallorey@capecdp.org.

The Community Development Partnership has been granted $250,000 in Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC) from the Commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

The CITC program enables the CDP to provide a state tax credit worth 50% of any donation to the CDP over $1,000.

The program ends on December 31, 2022, and we often run out of credits. If you plan on utilizing the CITC program this year, please reserve your credits as soon as possible by contacting Nina Cantor, Chief Development & Communications Officer at (508) 290-0125 or nina@capecdp.org.

Please be advised that although distributions from IRAs are eligible, gifts through some Donor Advised Funds such as Fidelity are not able to use the program.

Our Housing Rehabilitation Program is available to income-qualified residents of Eastham, Truro, and Provincetown. Qualified residents can receive up to $50,000 per household to pay for critical home repairs (such as roofing and siding, electrical, heating, and plumbing work), lead paint abatement, and energy efficiency upgrades to keep their properties in good condition for the long term. And with local contractors doing the work, it helps keep our local economy strong. 

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving weekly updates from our Business and Credit Program that are targeted to small businesses, please sign up for our Inside Scoop.