Four Community Organizations Receive Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Grants

CCIAOR was able to assist four local housing non-profit organizations in accessing $6,000 worth of grants from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) Charitable Foundation. The MAR Charitable Foundation awards grants to 501c3 organizations that Realtor® members work with to help those in need throughout Massachusetts. In order to be eligible to receive funds, the non-profit organization must work with a local Cape Cod or Islands-area REALTOR®. Most grants are given to organizations working in the housing or housing-related fields. These grants are made available to local organizations through CCIAOR, who facilitates the application process.

Assist Nantucket - $1,000: The Nantucket Rental Assistance Program (NRAP) offers short-term rental assistance to low-moderate income residents primarily living in housing provided by the private sector. As there are no homeless shelters on Nantucket, the program is the only stop gap from persons having to leave the island. NRAP supports community housing by assisting low-moderate income families secure and pay for year-round affordable housing in the current housing market. This approach keeps year-round rentals available and helps tenants maintain housing on Nantucket where the number of affordable rental units is dramatically below the number determined in the Housing Needs Assessment and other Housing Survey data. The NRAP is administered by the Nantucket Interfaith Council and is supported by CCIAOR member brokerage William Raveis – Nantucket. Click here for more information on Assist Nantucket.

Champ Homes - $2,000: Champ Homes is a faith-based, nondenominational 501©3 charity that provides support, sober, transitional housing to single men and women age 18 and older on Cape Cod, many of whom are challenged by mental, physical, and emotional disabilities or are recovering from addiction. Funds from the MAR Charitable Grant will go towards The Champ Homes Program, which can house up to 50 men or women at any given time. The funds will help make up for two fundraisers that were cancelled due to COVID-19. Champ Homes is supported by CCIAOR member Nancy Griffin of William Raveis Real Estate, who serves on the Champ Homes board of directors. Click here for more information on Champ Homes.

Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless (HECH) - $1,500: 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 the start of COVID-19, RSF program requests have increased 266%. HECH is supported by CCIAOR member Pam Roberts of Sotheby’s International Realty in Harwich Port. Click here for more information on HECH.

Vineyard House - $1,500: The Vineyard House provides housing for residents of Martha’s Vineyard in the early stages of recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. Vineyard House has fully-subsidized the rent for the 25 sober residents of their three properties who are working their program during the Covid-19 crisis when most employment options have not been available. The program operates year-round and plays a vital role in providing sober, affordable housing for islanders in recovery when they need it most. Vineyard House is supported by CCIAOR member brokerage Sandpiper Realty. Click here for more information on Vineyard House.

“It’s a core role of a REALTOR® to support the communities in which we live and work.” Notes CCIAOR CEO Ryan Castle. “The MAR Charitable Grants program is just one way in which we can give back and help our communities continue to be great, vibrant places to live and work by supporting the most vulnerable among us.”

For more information on the MAR Charitable Grants program, please visit https://www.marealtor.com/about#charitable