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Dear Friend of HPC,
The summer is off to a busy start here at HPC as we happily settle into our new home. We are so very grateful to our New Home Fund donors whose generosity made this transformational move possible. As expected, we’re seeing more walk-in clients. We’re also meeting new visitors who want to learn more about our work and how we serve our community. HPC continues to expand in ways that will bring more long-term stability to our neighbors in need as expenses continue to rise.
One of the many advantages of our new space is the ability to host larger gatherings, including our REACH graduation in May. I hope you enjoy our story about the REACH program and its impact. This issue of our newsletter also contains other uplifting articles, including a look at our recent Walk for Home, the launch of a pilot Host Homes program for youth, and our upcoming Backpack to School program.
If you haven’t been to see us yet, please stop by our new home at 8 Main Street in Orleans.
With appreciation, as always, for your support,
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Reaching for Stability, One Goal at a Time
The REACH Class of 2023 reflects all walks of Cape Cod life. Its members include youths and seniors, locals and immigrants. Their professions range from artist to educator to landscaper. What they all have in common is a dream—and the motivation to successfully reach that goal despite everyday challenges.
On May 15, HPC proudly granted certificates to 18 new REACH graduates who participated in our four-month action-oriented program focused on goal setting, mindfulness practice, and individualized coaching. Upon successful completion of the program, a $2,000 stipend was paid on behalf of the REACH participant to the entity or project that supported their goal.
One graduate, Emily, a former music teacher, joined REACH to pursue her goal of launching a food truck business for the summer 2023 season. The truck is aptly named Encore in a clever nod to her music background, as well as her “encore performance” as an entrepreneur. What Emily most enjoyed about REACH was “seeing that even within a refreshingly diverse group of individuals, our struggles and successes were quite similar.”
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The dynamic social connection that emerged from common bonds and shared learning will support Emily and other graduates beyond HPC’s formal REACH program.
Encore serves lunch in Orleans from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rockland Trust (Monday and Wednesday), at Del Mar Property Management Office (Tuesday and Thursday). On Saturdays you can find her for breakfast at Rockland Trust from 9 a.m. – noon. Daily menus are posted at encorefoodtruck.com. Please stop by Encore for lunch and support Emily’s new Business venture!
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Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Mumford
Talent abounds within HPC, especially among our volunteer corps of accomplished professionals who contribute daily to our work. Mary Mumford is an outstanding example.
Every Tuesday afternoon, you can expect to see her in her role as HPC’s resident editor and proofreader. She’s also often out working on assignment in the community on behalf of HPC.
Mary brings a remarkable talent to HPC after having taught in a gifted and talented program and as the elementary school library teacher in Pearl River, New York. It was always her dream to move to Cape Cod after vacationing here for years. Upon retirement, Mary and her husband made the move from Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, to Harwich 10 years ago. They’ve never looked back.
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HPC Launches Initiative to Secure Transitional Housing for Youth
Host Homes is a new pilot HPC program that pairs a youth with an adult who has underutilized space in their home. The match enables an 18-to 24-year-old to build stability, focus, and savings before moving on to their next step in life. The home host receives a monthly stipend to offset the expense of having an additional person in the home. Host Homes is designed to benefit both participants in the match.
This spring, the Host Homes program provided one young man with stable housing so he could successfully complete his senior year of high school and prepare to attend a four-year college in the fall. HPC’s help didn’t end there. This motivated young adult also participated in our REACH program. While working full time and going to school, he used his only day off to take part in REACH. His goal? To use the money he saved from his work—across three different summer jobs—to support himself through college and to set an example for his siblings back home. He wanted to demonstrate that through hard work and determination you can reach your goals. The match with a caring host home adult, although short-term, is successfully moving him toward that aim.
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If you or someone you know is interested in learning about the Host Homes program, please contact our Youth & Young Adult Case Manager, Mary, by email at mary@hpccapecod.org, by phone at (774) 801-9502, or by visiting our Host Homes webpage. | | |
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American Rescue Plan Grant Award
HPC CEO Hadley Luddy, Board Member Maryann Campagna, and HPC Operations & Finance Officer Bridget Dickson accept a $275,000 American Rescue Plan Grant Award to be used for new building renovations, expanded outreach efforts, and more direct assistance for HPC’s clients.
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Fresh Produce Partnership
HPC has partnered with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and Cape Abilities Farm to help distribute fresh produce to HPC clients and other community partners on a regular basis. Going forward, our friends at Lower Cape Outreach Council (LCOC) will be taking over the lead on this distribution to incorporate produce boxes into their “foods to encourage” program. With its focus on food access, LCOC can reach even more families who can benefit from healthy fresh produce.
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Housing Options for Seniors
Join us on September 19th at the HPC office at 8 Main Street in Orleans for a conversation about future housing options for seniors. Andrew Bardetti from South Costal Counties Legal Services will be there to discuss tenants’ rights. This event is free and open to residents from all towns.
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Be a Partner in Our Local Students’ Success | | |
HPC’s Backpack to School program, a 22-year tradition in our community, supports the achievement of our local students. We’re in full swing, accepting donations of new school supplies, backpacks for grades Pre-K through 12, and gift cards for shoes. We want to send our students into their new school year with the supplies they need to succeed. | |
Supplies can be delivered up until August 18th to our community partners at Staples, Orleans Police Department, Orleans Chamber of Commerce, First Citizens' Credit Union locations, and all Seamen’s Bank locations. Supplies can also be delivered to Nauset Marine, which is generously hosting its annual boatload of backpacks. | |
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Join the momentum and be a partner in our students’ success!
Visit our Backpack to School webpage for a full list of supplies needed, or donate and we’ll purchase the supplies needed.
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The Community Rallies for HPC’s 5th Walk for Home | | |
HPC’s Walk for Home on June 10, which raised over $58,000 to help those who struggle to live and work on Cape Cod, was a true community effort. Walk Co-chairs Jennifer Whitaker and Amanda De Oliveira of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty raised the profile of this year’s walk, guided 18 teams, inspired 134 registrants, and generated 415 donations. Whitaker and De Olivera know all too well the rising price of Cape Cod real estate and its impact on local working families—and they wanted to give back through their volunteerism. Whitaker is also a long-time HPC Board member. | |
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The dynamic duo—in business and in their philanthropic activities—enthusiastically expanded this year’s Walk for Home from Provincetown to also include Chatham.
Provincetown residents have been a mainstay for the Walk for years, and the fifth annual Walk drew continued support from Provincetown youth. Students in the Provincetown School National Junior Honor Society came together to raise nearly $4,500 for HPC. They were motivated after seeing how affordable housing challenges have forced much-loved classmates to move away.
Chatham also rallied for the Walk. With St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church as the base of operations, Chatham raised over $11,000. Chatham and its businesses know firsthand the detrimental effect that the shortage of affordable housing has on the local workforce.
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HPC in the news
Housing shortages on Cape emphasized in Healey visit
Homeless Prevention Council CEO Hadley Luddy said her agency has seen a big increase in the 25 to 54 age group coming to them for help. “These are the people we’re serving and this is our workforce,” she said. “People don’t connect the dots necessarily.”
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Walk For Home makes Chatham debut
This year, efforts were made to officially include Chatham in the Walk for Home event as a partnering town. The town's select board supported the request.
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Homeless Prevention Council office move in opens up room for new apartments
After 23 years, Homeless Prevention Council has left its location at 14 Old Tote Road in Orleans. But that's a particularly good thing. The council's former office will soon turn into year-round housing.
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Thank you to all the businesses who have stepped forward to be our 2023 sponsors. We are grateful for your support. | |
...There for our neighbors since 1991 | |
8 Main Street, Orleans, MA 02653 | 508-255-9667
hpccapecod.org
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