2020 a year of challenges, hope and success |
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Even in a normal year, many individuals and families living on the Lower and Outer Cape are on the edge of surviving.
This year was marked with challenges no one could have anticipated. The public health crisis quickly evolved into an economic one. In our communities, far too many businesses shut down and workers were laid off.
As incomes diminished families struggled to make ends meet and pay rent; businesses needed help navigating federal programs, for which many did not qualify. To stay afloat, businesses had to adapt on a dime.
As people left Boston and New York to move to the relative safety of the Cape, the real estate market ignited, further magnifying our housing problem as fewer properties were available to rent and prices soared.
Throughout it all, the Community Development Partnership stayed “open for business” and worked in a myriad of ways to help those individuals, families and businesses on the Lower Cape impacted by the pandemic. We adapted our housing advocacy efforts, business and credit support, and maintained weekly calls with the residents of our housing units to ensure they had access to the services they might need.
Despite our collective struggles, we were able to help hundreds of individuals, families and businesses. What follows are highlights from the past year – all made possible due to the support from the community.
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Local businesses weather the pandemic and prepare for what’s next |
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When Governor Baker issued stay at home orders in mid-March we knew we would need to adjust our small business support efforts to meet what would become an evolving need.
Initially we assisted local business owners in navigating Federal PPP and EIDL programs. We then provided training workshops focused on re-opening strategies, legal issues, online marketing and pivoting one's business strategy. Many of our businesses needed one on one mentoring and guidance.
We are now in the process of distributing over $400,000 in CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) forgivable loans to small businesses owned by low-income residents hard hit by the pandemic. Thus far we have provided 17 local businesses with over $170,000 in funding.
Overall, we assisted over 150 businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape this year. In their own words, this is how some of them have adapted:
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In Wellfleet, Holbrook Oyster's income was reduced to zero when COVID-19 closed restaurants across the state and the country. To keep their business afloat, they started selling online directly to consumers. According to General Manager and Co-Owner Zack Dixon, "We are trying to be enterprising, and the whole thing has opened up our eyes as to what can be done. Although the logistics of managing hundreds of sales and deliveries was complicated, the team made the adjustments needed to maintain our business."
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Cosmos Catering started Cosmos Concierge Catering, a pre-prepared meal delivery service with options for all three meals and weekly specials. “We saw that people were starting to come back to their summer homes and we even had some former clients call us,” says owner Laura Davis, “They were either quarantining or didn’t want the hassle of going to the grocery store.”
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Shoal Hopes Cider Works owner Rob Brosofsky said “ I really felt that this was the year I was going to turn the corner, then all of this happened and it takes wind out of your sails. But you don’t slow down - you innovate.” So Shoal Hopes started shipping directly to consumers outside of Massachusetts. Rob remains “optimistic, looking forward to getting the business back on track, and in the future, I hope to open a taproom.”
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Provincetown artist Laura Shabott, moved all of her classes online and has participated in three virtual art shows. “The good thing about moving online is that I can teach people from all over and they don’t have to come try and live in Provincetown.” During the pandemic, Laura actually grew her business. “I hired an assistant to help facilitate my workshops. It’s a big leap to hire an employee, but I was able to create a job in the middle of the pandemic thanks to the CDP..."
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We all need a home we can afford |
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We continued to provide affordable housing to 151 adults and 53 children; we also housed 44 adults and 10 children in the market rate units we manage at Harbor Hill in Provincetown. |
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This summer we caught up with Cara Maes and her 12 year-old daughter who live in our affordable cottage units in Harwich. Cara works as a hairdresser and has struggled to make ends meet. She is thrilled to be living in a place she can afford and become more financially secure. She no longer stresses about future rent increases or having to find a new home if the property is sold. “The stability was extremely important... especially with my daughter. If it was just me, moving wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but I didn’t want that for her.”
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In the spring, lifelong restaurant professional Dianna Cavalieri of Provincetown moved into our affordable units at Harry Kemp Way. She had been on a waitlist for affordable housing for 5 years. Now 77, she had this to say about her new home, “I don’t have to worry about my bills. I don’t have to worry about being cold during the winter. And I’m no longer working 50 hours a week on my feet.”
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When the cost of home repairs are too much to bear there is help... |
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This marked the 17th year of the CDP’s Housing Rehabilitation program – an initiative that helps low to moderate income households complete critical repairs by providing forgivable loans of up to $40,000. For these families, leaking roofs, failed heating systems, lead paint or crumbling stairs are among the repairs that over burden budgets and threaten the safety and well-being of the people living in the home.
This year we completed repairs on over a dozen homes and approved twenty-four applicants. Eight of the households have children and thirteen are occupied by someone over 65 years old.
Due to safety protocols in the early stages of the pandemic, we could only complete outdoor work, but as restrictions lifted we were able to complete interior repairs. Overall, local contractors were paid nearly $1 million for repairs during the pandemic.
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“This was such a great opportunity...we were able to complete the work our house needed as we couldn't afford it. Not only does our house look beautiful, it is more efficient!” |
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A young family in Eastham was struggling with how to pay for needed repairs. They were losing heat through the windows and water was dripping from the ceiling in the attic where it formed ice on the interior walls.
We conducted an assessment and determined that all windows, doors, sliding doors and some of the exterior siding would need to be replaced. Work was completed in June giving the Quintero family the peace of mind they needed as we headed into winter.
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"At 81 years old, losing my septic in my house in March was a nightmare."
Helga, West Harwich, Housing Rehab Client
Just as the pandemic hit, Helga found herself without a septic. She struggled to get in touch with the septic company - so for months she showered at the local gym, did her laundry at her sister's and limited the use of her kitchen. We helped Helga gather her paperwork, approved her loan, and oversaw the work.
"For me, your program was life changing. I still had my home and no longer lived in fear of having to uproot my whole life because of this project."
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A pandemic couldn't keep us away from our housing advocacy work! |
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Now in its fourth year, our Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership convened monthly meetings of municipal officials to discuss how towns can support their residents and advance housing initiatives.
We provided critical state and federal updates on rental assistance and eviction moratoriums to staff and officials of each town.
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We covered various discussion topics each month including how towns are using Housing Trust and Community Preservation Act funds for housing programs.
We convened a separate working group to develop guidelines for a regional Emergency Rental Assistance program for residents that have been impacted by COVID-19 and need immediate assistance.
We explored COVID-19 impacts on local businesses, childcare resources for families as well as unemployment, and we had a discussion on the state’s local preference policy in the context of racial equity.
The Lower Cape Housing Institute shifted to virtual and we held quarterly Peer Group Meetings comprised of local elected officials, volunteers and towns employees where folks could discuss, plan and prepare for Town Meetings. Our efforts focused on pushing through changes in zoning and new resources to help solve housing affordability challenges.
This year’s round of Annual Town Meetings approved all 29 housing related articles totaling $4,778,717 in local funding for housing bringing the three year total to over $ million.
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Canal House continued to be a beacon of light for those in sobriety |
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Over the past 24 years more than 175 individuals have lived at Canal House, the CDP’s sober living facility located in Orleans. The years have taken its toll, and this year we embarked on a major renovation project, thanks to support from Charles Bank Homes and the Kelley Foundation. Our hope is that the renovations will create a physical environment that is more supportive of the residents focused on recovery.
The people that come to Canal House are looking for a place that is safe where they can focus on their sobriety and reclaiming their life. This year a new resident told us how relieved he was to have secured a room at Canal House as he had been living in a shelter for the past few months where he witnessed several fatal overdoses.
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Ryan, a Brewster native had a near fatal accident that put him in a coma after he went for a ride on his dirt bike after drinking. His abuse of alcohol and pain medicine following his injury ended in a downward spiral. Following a stint in a drug treatment program he came to Canal House early in the year. Now sober for more than 18 months, Ryan is working as a carpenter and is pursuing several hobbies.
“When I moved into Canal House I knew it would keep me on the right path. I love it here. The big benefit is that you are surrounded by others who are also sober. This means those who are here really want it and have already shown they can be successful.”
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...and there was more, but now let's hear from our staff |
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In their own words - staff reflect on the past year |
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Beginning on March 12th CDP staff, in compliance with the Governor's orders, started working from home. Many of us continue to work from home, and the work has never stopped!
We asked staff to share some of their memorable work moments from the past year:
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"Who would have thought that I would meet people wearing masks in parking lots to give them grant money!
Pam (Business & Credit)
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Alex
(Office Admin)
"While at my desk opening a stack of mail, I overturned one envelope containing a rent check to see that the resident had written ‘used a Lysol wipe to wet seal’ with an arrow pointing to the seal. I chuckled, but appreciated the cheeriness demonstrated by our resident."
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Pelinda
(Housing Advocacy)
"A retired Chatham resident is a caregiver for his brother and needed help with paying rent. It became clear that getting access to services and navigating the application process was not easy and my job was to listen and point them in the right direction. "
Dawn
(Property Management)
"I made weekly well-being calls to our residents. They got to voice their concerns about what is going on in the world…Some with a sense of dread and others with an enormous sense of humor.”
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Terri
(Housing Rehab)
"Even though Covid-19 was almost all-consuming, we needed to remember that folks were still struggling in other ways. For example, the need for financial help to fix a leaking roof couldn’t get put on hold until there is a vaccine. "
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If you have not yet donated to our end of year appeal, we encourage you to do so now using the link below. We thank you for helping us to provide needed support to our community.
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Thank you for supporting the work we do to make the Lower Cape a place where we can all live, work and thrive!
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