Barnstable County Department of Human Services and Partners Announce Coordinated Community Plan to Address and End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness
February 1, 2024 (Barnstable, MA) â On January 26th at the Homeless Prevention Council in Orleans, the Cape and Islands Youth Action Board (YAB) and the Barnstable County Department of Human Services held a public release event to announce their Coordinated Community Plan (CCP) to address and end youth and young adult (YYA) homelessness on Cape Cod and the Islands. The Plan is entitled Hopeful Homes: Sea Change for the Cape and Islands Youth and Young Adults.
Barnstable County spearheaded the planning effort as part of a $1,357,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. The Countyâs Department of Human Services will lead the YYA Homelessness Committee to explore additional community partnerships and funding sources to meet the goals and action steps detailed in Hopeful Homes.
Hopeful Homes is the culmination of an eighteen-month planning process that brought together over eighty community partners to develop a data-informed assessment of current services and resources, and develop an equitable, inclusive, and accessible response to homelessness for youths aged 24 and under. Key resources and services identified during development of the plan include lowering barriers to stable housing, exploring innovative housing models, expanding the authentic voice of YYA with lived experience of housing instability in systems improvement, transportation challenges, and more. Notably, HUD funds will support a Host Homes program linking community members with suitable space in their home with YYA in need of temporary housing. Homeless Prevention Council has been piloting a Host Homes program on the Lower/Outer Cape and HUD funds will allow the program to expand across the Cape and Islands.
The event included remarks by Parker Thomson, YAB Networking and Outreach Coordinator, Joseph Pacheco, Department of Human Services Director and Hadley Luddy, Homeless Prevention Council Chief Executive Officer. The event served as a launch for implementation of the plan and a public invitation to join region-wide efforts to engage with YYA early in their experience of housing instability.
âI was delighted to see so many community members and partners at our Coordinated Community Plan release,â said Joseph Pacheco. âThis was another great example of the tremendous community support this work has received and speaks to the foundation in place to sustain this vital programming throughout Cape Cod and the Islands.â
Hadley Luddy added, âOur team at HPC is honored to be a part of this collaborative effort to address youth homelessness on the Cape & Islands. This demonstration grant presents a great opportunity for our community to work together to support and address the many challenges facing young people as they strive to live and work in our region.â
Parker Thomson reflected on the importance of a collaborative response, stating, âWe’re proud to unveil this Coordinated Community Plan in partnership with the Barnstable County Department of Human Services. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration between YYA, community partners, and the Cape Cod Community in its entirety. We believe the plan is a catalyst for evoking real change that works towards meeting the needs of youth and young adults across the Cape and Islandsâ.
Anyone who would like to serve on the YYA Homelessness Committee or learn more about the efforts of YYA serving partners should contact Dan Gray at daniel.gray@capecod.gov.
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY DERPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
The mission of the Department of Human Services is to plan, develop, and implement programs that enhance the overall delivery of human services in Barnstable County and promote the health and social well-being of County residents through regional efforts that improve coordination of services. For more information, visit us at:
https://www.capecod.gov/departments/human-services/
https://www.instagram.com/bchumanservices/
https://www.facebook.com/healthyconnectedcapecod/
Barnstable County Department of Human Services (@HumanServicesBC) / X (twitter.com)
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD
Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mandi Speakman, Deputy Director, mandi.speakman@capecod.gov
508-470-4936
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