Congressman Keating joins POAH, Housing Assistance and local officials to cut the ribbon on Cape View Way affordable housing in Bourne

New Bourne development has 42 affordable apartments, including 4 handicapped-accessible units

Bourne, MA – Elected officials and housing advocates gathered today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Cape View Way, a development in Bourne that will provide safe, stable housing for over 100 people.

The three-story Cape View Way development is a partnership between Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Housing Assistance that offers a mix of 9 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, and 5 three-bedroom apartments. Three apartments are fully handicapped-accessible and a fourth will be accessible to sensory-impaired residents. Twenty-six apartments are available to residents earning 60% of the area median income (AMI) with 16 units subsidized for residents at 30% of AMI.

Cape View Way is well-located near Route 6 and a Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) bus stop, providing convenient access to transit, employment, and services. The property’s final design was the result of a lengthy public process which included numerous refinements and culminated in a January 2022 approval by the Bourne Zoning Board of Appeals.

“The 42 units at Cape View Way will make a life-changing difference for dozens of Cape Cod families and individuals,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “The urgency of the Cape’s housing crisis is demonstrated by the lottery for renters at Cape View Way, which drew over 900 applicants.”

“Housing isn’t just building the actual construction. It’s building a life for the people who live there,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “As not only the congressman from this area, but a resident of Bourne, I’m pleased to see officials joining together from the local level, the state level and the federal level to put this project together.”

“One of the top concerns we’ve heard from everyone on the Cape is the need for more affordable homes for the local workforce to live in,” said Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “We need more homes for public safety workers, teachers and nurses. And we need more homes for those who work in our incredible tourism industry who deserve an affordable place to go home to at the end of the day. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is proud to partner with HAC and POAH to create these 42 new affordable homes at Cape View Way.”

“POAH appreciates our partners’ support for this critical affordable housing on Cape Cod,” said POAH President and CEO Aaron Gornstein. “Public/private partnerships such as this help us create more homes for many who could otherwise not afford to stay on the Cape – especially low-income families and disabled individuals.”

Other speakers at the ceremony were State Rep. Steven Xiarhos; Nancy McCafferty, Director of Business Development, Massachusetts Housing Partnership; Bary Johnson, Bourne Town Clerk; and Shamim Morris, a Cape View Way resident.

The project was funded through state-allocated federal sources include 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding plus MA Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities gap funding including Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Housing Stabilization Fund, Housing Innovation Fund and local funding includes ARPA, CPA, and HOME funding supported by the Town of Bourne and the Barnstable County HOME Consortium

POAH and Housing Assistance also took the lead on securing a $1.31 million MassWorks infrastructure grant, which financed offsite water main upgrades under the direction of the North Sagamore Water District. The improved service will benefit Cape View and surrounding properties.

About POAH: Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a nonprofit developer, owner, and operator of more than 14,000 affordable homes in 13 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.poah.org.

About Housing Assistance: Housing Assistance was founded in 1974. Its mission is to strengthen the Cape Cod and Islands region by empowering individuals, fostering community connections, and increasing affordable housing opportunities.  The organization is a community non-profit that offers a continuum of housing and education programs that focus on homelessness prevention, rental stabilization, and homeownership opportunities for families and individuals on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. For more information, visit HAConCapeCod.org