Delegates, residents press county to convert planning into housing action; shared services praised

Public commenters and a majority of delegates pressed the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates on April 2 to move from study to action on affordable housing, emphasizing technical support, predevelopment funding and expansion of a regional shared-housing services pilot.

Why it matters: Cape Cod speakers and delegates said the housing shortage affects people across the economy — from educators to elderly and people with disabilities — and that regional coordination and early-stage assistance could make projects feasible.

David Kaplan, executive director of Forward, told the assembly he runs affordable, supportive housing for people on the autism spectrum and urged the county to expand assistance beyond construction grants. “Predevelopment for these 8 apartments … is over a million dollars,” Kaplan said, adding that the county provided a $325,000 ARPA grant toward his current project.

Other public commenters described similar gaps. Bob Samilak, co-chair of the Dennis Housing Trust, said the county’s shared-services regional program has been “very helpful,” particularly for deed and subsidized-housing inventory questions. Sherian Armstrong, chair of the Greater Cape and Islands Mass Educator Action Network, said teachers and school employees are leaving or declining positions because they cannot find housing they can afford. Bobbi Richards, director of the Falmouth Housing Authority, said a large HUD emergency repair grant her authority received was stretched by post-COVID cost increases and asked the county to consider unspent funds for urgent repairs.

Delegates discussed several possible county roles. Multiple members praised the regional shared-housing services pilot funded with ARPA dollars and recommended extending it or folding successful elements into a permanent shared-service position. Deputy Speaker Gessen urged the assembly to act boldly and in smaller, achievable steps: “If we act, not study … I bet we could put 20 families in homes by the end of the summer,” she said.

Other delegates urged a pragmatic, town-by-town approach. Delegate Frederickson and others said towns are already advancing projects — including sizable units in some municipalities — and recommended careful execution and coordination rather than duplicative county programs. Several delegates recommended the assembly’s housing subcommittee meet to identify short-term, regional actions the county can resource or coordinate.

Committee and funding context: County Administrator Dutton said the county intends to continue a regional housing approach and is preparing an RFP and intermunicipal agreements; he also warned that federal and state funding streams are in flux. Delegates noted the ARPA-funded pilot and a $4 billion state housing pool as background but emphasized the need for technical assistance, financing for predevelopment, and a regional clearinghouse to help towns adopt zoning or funding tools.

What was not decided: No binding county policy or new appropriation was adopted at the meeting. Delegates asked staff to schedule a housing subcommittee meeting to refine next steps and to consult with the Cape Cod Commission and towns on implementation.

Ending: Delegates and members of the public left the meeting with an agreement to convene the assembly’s housing subcommittee for a focused discussion on how to sustain the shared-services pilot and identify immediate, achievable county actions.