Why We're Here

Are there really homeless individuals on Cape Cod? Yes, unfortunately there are.

This is a true story, with names changed, which shows how a typical Cape family can develop a housing crisis situation and how Interfaith can help bring stability and prevent housing loss.

Kathy and Peter have three children. Kathy works full-time as a Certified Nursing Assistant and during the "season" she picks up extra work cleaning cottages. Peter works two full-time jobs. They are typical of many Cape Cod families living close to the edge.

Peter became ill with what was thought to be the flu. After a few days he became so ill they had to call rescue. Peter arrived at the hospital a very seriously ill man. He was diagnosed with meningitis and was out of work for a month.

Kathy and the children were immediately affected in a whole other way. The nursing home where Kathy worked would not allow her to come back to work until she was medically cleared. At that time the daycare center advised her that the children must also wait out the incubation period for contracting meningitis. Of course they had to continue to pay for the daycare or lose the spot, and day care is difficult to obtain and vital for working families. Unfortunately, only one of Peter's jobs provided him with sick time. This loss of income threatened their already stretched budget.

A neighbor referred Kathy to Interfaith. When they did their intake with us, Peter was back to work and they had been playing "catch up" on all their bills. But, they were unable to close the gap without jeopardizing their rental. They had to choose between rent, heat, electricity and food.

After a careful review of all their income and their debts a plan was put in place. The case manager worked with the family and NStar Electric to set up a payment plan preventing their electricity from getting shut off. A rental package was put together by the case manager networking with the Lower Cape Outreach Council and the Chatham Ecumenical Council for the Homeless to pay back the rent. It also included a monthly partial payment of the rent for three months, allowing Peter and Kathy to catch up on other outstanding bills accrued during the illness.

A stabilization plan like this keeps the family and the case manager in touch on a weekly basis. It allows the family to be part of the solution and proactive with the case manager in solving their problems. With Interfaith's assistance, Peter and Kathy are back on their feet.

So why do these situations arise so frequently on the Cape? Homelessness on the Lower Cape stems from:

• Ever-rising housing costs
• A shrinking year-round rental housing market
• The absence of a livable wage

Many families are just one or two paychecks away from homelessness. When unexpected bills occur or a job is lost, there are no funds available to cover living expenses, so families are quickly thrust into a desperate situation. Interfaith Council works not only to help families, but to reverse these trends.