Seven Community Organizations Receive Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Grants

CCIAOR assisted seven local housing-oriented non-profits in receiving $10,500 worth of grants from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. These grants will be put to work in our local communities combating homelessness and working to provide much-needed housing security and other services.

The organizations listed below each received $1,500 grants:

Belonging to Each Other (BTEO) is a coalition of volunteers from 9 Falmouth congregations and other community members, founded in late 2015 to address the problem of homelessness in our community. BTEO provides temporary housing, food, transportation and internet services at no charge for men and women experiencing homelessness in Falmouth, while helping clients identify more stable housing and/or necessary services. It is a high touch, high intensity model.

The Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center provides comprehensive life sustaining services for veterans and their families. They continue to strive for an innovative and integrated program of essential services which evolves as the needs of each new generation of veterans emerges.

Champ Homes seeks to provide shelter, build community and change lives. They provide and maintain a safe, therapeutic and nurturing environment where homeless individuals are empowered to participate in our supportive, family-type housing model. It is their sincere hope that individuals will find an oasis where love, respect and support, help each to move away from the difficulties that led to their homelessness and begin to reach their full potential.

Located in Harwichport Massachusetts, Cove Clubhouse is a community of support for individuals with mental health conditions. The Clubhouse is a voluntary membership program, with activities based around the interests, needs, and goals of its membership. Clubs focus on peer support and the empowerment of its membership. Strengths of members are celebrated, which provides the opportunity to live, learn, and engage in meaningful work, while contributing to the Club community.

HECH’s main mission is to develop compassionate solutions to homelessness problems for families – especially those with children – living in Harwich and the surrounding communities of Cape Cod. Funds from the MAR Charitable Foundation grant will be applied to the Libby Arnold Stevens Resident Stabilization Fund (RSF), which provides individuals and families on Cape Cod with one-time emergency assistance for rent or mortgage arrearages, utility payments or other qualifying housing-related needs.

Since its founding in 1991, the Homeless Prevention Council (HPC) has been a critical resource for Cape Codders in need and has helped more than 42,000 Lower Cape residents throughout their 30 year history. HPC works directly in the community with neighbors in need, providing support and resources to ensure that all in the community can thrive. HPC provides personalized case management to each client to help connect them with the resources needed to overcome challenges. Funds from the grant will be utilized to provide personalized case management to nearly 2,000 individuals.

Vineyard House provides housing for Island men and women in need of a safe structured living environment while they are in the early stages of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. In 2014 they moved into a new specially designed recovery community with separate houses for men and women, an administration building, and 12-step meeting rooms to provide the support residents need while renewing responsibilities to themselves, their families and the community.