The Concord Group
Housing Assistance Corporation commissioned The Concord Group in 2022 to delve deeper into the Cape’s regional economy and housing market to analyze the current situation and offer evidence-based solutions to address the housing crisis and worker shortage.
Key takeaways:
- The Cape is losing more than 800 households a year that make $100k or less
- As of 2019, nearly half (48%) of the labor force lived outside Barnstable County
- More than 80% of residences on the Cape is single family homes
- We have not built enough year-round or multi-family housing in the last decade to satisfy demand
Missing Middle
This 2020 report by Union Studios looks at the history of residential zoning and building on Cape Cod and how it created today’s housing crisis. It describes the “Missing Middle” as housing that can supplement the existing housing market with much-needed variety and provide options at a wide range of price points.
The High Cost of Doing Nothing
This 2018 report by the Housing Assistance Corporation describes the housing crisis and offers several ways to address it including:
- Creating programs to incentivize seasonal homeowners to rent to year-round tenants
- Passing improved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaws
- Revise outdated zoning regulations to allow for greater housing density in village centers and a greater variety of housing types across Cape Cod
- Educate decision makers about the housing market and the need for increased housing supply for all income levels
