Barnstable County assistance programs
Find how to get help with bills, rent, and other expenses
Thousands of people across southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod are struggling and need help with bills, debt, rent, and other costs. The Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands (CACCI) is one local nonprofit agency that they can turn to for aid. It administers several different programs that can provide people with help, and they also can refer people to other charities and organizations. Some of the what they offer is noted below.
- The CACCI agency is one of the many community action agencies located across Massachusetts. They continue to serve families and individuals in the local community. Some of the resources and services they provide include helping clients obtain food stamps, they can apply for and refer people to fuel and heating assistance programs, offer free health care. Case workers can help people with medical bills, and offer free child care. The non-profit agency can provide free food and clothing through its emergency pantry, Missie’s Closet; and they also offer general counseling and advice.
- Some of the other resources include stability. Free financial and debt counseling advice is given. With the average household in the US carrying credit card and medical debt, the agency realizes that people need help eliminating this debt.
There are various assistance programs from CACCI. They can both provide people with debt help, and refer them to other local agencies or programs. For example, they can refer them to debt settlement and credit card hardship programs. They help people with creating budgeting spending plans to reduce their expenses and bills, and also help them deal with fears that may result from financial planning.
Using some of these resources and assistance programs can help Barnstable County residents gain long term self-sufficiency as their finances will be in better condition. Click here for more information on how to reduce your overall debt levels.
- Rent help is offered. The non-profit Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands agency can both offer people direct access to their own rental assistance programs. Since it is limited funding, they can refer people to other local and government programs as well. For example, they offer the Rental Housing Assistance Program (RHAP). This program will help people pay the difference between the housing costs they must pay and the amount they can pay, so it is a subsidy program.
If someone does not qualify, the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands may be able to refer people to federal government programs, such as the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This program offers eviction prevention grants, and funds for other housing costs such as utility bills and security deposits.
- CACCI can help people apply for grants from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It is for low income, elderly, and disabled households. This is a federal government funded energy bill program. LIHEAP will help qualified families pay for their home heating bills, air conditioning and cooling expenses, as well as any other energy costs. In addition, funds may be available to helping people weatherize their homes so they can reduce their energy bills. Thousands of people are supported by these program every year.
To apply or learn more about these programs, stop by the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands at 115 Enterprise Road, Hyannis, MA 02601, or call them at (508) 771-1727. Or click more on Cape Cod Community Action.
Emergency financial assistance for paying bills
The Cape Cod Times Needy Fund provides mortgage payment assistance, a homeless shelter, rent payment assistance, gas, heating, and electric bill payment assistance, transportation expense assistance, prescription expense assistance, and medical bill payment assistance. A holiday gift and meal program is also run. Abington (508) 778 - 5661
The Hands of Hope Outreach Center, which is located in West Harwich Massachusetts (508) 394 - 6361, is a multi-service outreach center that offers numerous assistance programs that serve the needs of low income families and working poor in the Mid-Cape area. The non-profit has the following services and resources available to qualified individuals.
Food Pantry serving low income families from Harwich to Mashpee; financial assistance and cash grants with utility shut-offs, fuel, and rent; clothing for individuals, families and singles; Furniture donations; donations from member churches and the community. Also assists with providing diapers (more on free diapers), prescriptions and medications, food stamp applications, and day care information and assistance.
An agency that serves many of the same programs in the other parts of the Cape is the Lower Cape Outreach Council, which is located in Orleans. Dial (508) 240 - 0694
St. Vincent dePaul Society - Mashpee - Service offered to the sick and the needy include food pantries, congregate meals/nutrition sites, mortgage payment assistance, home delivered meals, rent payment assistance, electric, heating and gas bill payment assistance, friendly visiting and charities/foundations/funding organizations. Mashpee Massachusetts. (508) 477 - 7710 Ext: 41.
The Salvation Army has locations in Cape Cod. The Working poor Barnstable County families as well as those that are struggling can get help. There is a free breakfast meal service as well as food pantry on site. The center also arranges low cost summer camp for kids and mentors them. Other social services on Cape Cod range from Christmas toys or meals to shelter, housing, and more. Continue with Barnstable County Salvation Army services.
Our Lady of the Cape St. Vincent de Paul is a local non-profit that provides members of the local community with assistance with paying for utility and heating bills. There may also be money or low interest loans for housing expenses including rent and mortgages, medical charges, food and other emergency needs such as car repairs. Brewster MA. (508) 385 - 7582
Falmouth Service Center provides the low income, unemployed and working poor with essential services and resources such as free food from an emergency food pantry; assistance with Food Stamps, fuel and heating assistance (LIHEAP only), and MassHealth applications. Additional services provided include: home food delivery for elderly and infirm Falmouth residents, resource and referral information for Massachusetts and federal government programs, and gently used clothing. Call (508) 548 - 2794
Cape Cod area Catholic Charities administers social services and emergency assistance for low income and unemployed individuals. Housing resources include emergency rental assistance as well as tenant and foreclosure mediation. Other financial aid may be available. Case workers provide education and employment services for the Barnstable County region. Other resources include meals for seniors, child care, and general counseling. Click more details.
Homeless prevention, rent, and mortgage help
The Homeless Prevention Council of Orleans MA (phone (508) 255 - 9667) is committed to keeping people in home and apartments, and the agency will help those in need find and access available resources, including housing programs, mortgage assistance and funding at government, charities and other social service agencies. Counselors will also help individuals establish a budget, access healthcare and insurance, and will advocate for individuals, including negotiation with landlords, mortgage servicers and banks for rent and mortgage adjustments, as necessary.
Housing Assistance Corporation administers workshops and housing/foreclosure counseling for first-time homebuyers, rental assistance (including Section 8 housing), eviction prevention programs, and rehabilitation and foreclosure assistance. The agency also administers Regional Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC). Counselors work with community members about credit problems, personal budgeting, debt reduction, and home-buying. Hyannis (508) 771 - 5400. Or find additional Massachusetts mortgage assistance programs.
Barnstable County food banks and free pantries
Two of the primary food distribution centers are listed below. Both are more for emergency situations. However the state as well as Cape Cod region have other centers as well, including clothing closets and general food pantries. Hundreds of low income families receive assistance or referrals from the centers every year. To find a listing of additional food banks in Massachusetts, click here.
The Calvary Baptist Church operates an emergency food assistance program and kitchen that serves all of Barnstable County and its residents. Call (508) 775 - 7018. Hyannis MA.
Mashpee Good Neighbor Food Pantry provides emergency food assistance. Phone (508) 477 - 1505
There are several other food pantries as well as soup kitchens in the community. Clients of the non-profit centers come from all backgrounds, races, and income levels. Click more Barnstable County free food pantries.
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