Summit

3rd Annual Housing to Protect Cape Cod Summit

The third annual Housing to Protect Cape Cod (HPCC) Summit, held on October 17, focused on ways Cape Codders can leverage the new policies in the historic Affordable Homes Act signed this summer by Gov. Maura Healey. “The passage of the act created a range of resources to create more attainable year-round housing across our region,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “All of us here today are very excited to keep this momentum going and to take this historic legislation and figure out how to make it implantable in our towns,” she said. “We’re not here to talk about the problem, but to commit to action.”

Speakers included Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward Augustus and State Senator Julian Cyr. Panel discussions focused on ways the region and individual towns can implement key elements of the act, including the Seasonal Communities Designation and the loosened restrictions on constructing ADUs (accessory dwelling units).

“The question is, are the rest of us going to show up and give voice for those DPW workers who are living on the beach or in a shack or the other folks who are making that trip every day over the bridge to plow your roads, to clean those hotel rooms, work in those restaurants, and keep the economy of Cape Cod running?” – Secretary Edward Augustus

Housing Champions

The event concluded with recognition of four local housing champions:
Lynne Rhodes: For speaking up in Barnstable to ensure equity on the town’s ad hoc housing committee
State Senator Julian Cyr: For his consistent advocacy at the State House on behalf of our region’s needs
Michael Galasso: For his dedication to developing affordable housing in Falmouth
Tara Vargas Wallace: For her leadership in giving voice to marginalized members of our community and speaking up in Barnstable to ensure equity on the town’s ad hoc housing committee

Policy Toolkit

Housing to Protect Cape Cod’s policy toolkit, created in 2023, has specific policy recommendations to promote housing. The toolkit provides a high-level overview of the recommendations and local examples to illustrate the benefits of the suggested changes.

See Toolkit