Recognizing Housing Assistance's 50th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Housing Assistance as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Housing Assistance was originally founded in 1974 by Rick Presbrey in a small office converted from a garage in West Yarmouth. At first, the organization's sole program was administering State Chapter 707 Rental Assistance, but in 1975, Housing Assistance also began administering HUD Section Rental Assistance, followed by weatherization services. Over the past five decades the Cape Cod and Islands region has grown and evolved and so has the organization. What began as a rental voucher agency with only a few employees has grown into a regional housing agency and one of the largest developers of affordable housing in the region.

Now with 120 employees and led by CEO Alisa Magnotta and Board Chairman Bill Bogdanovich, Housing Assistance strives to elevate the Cape and Islands economy and community, empower residents of all ages and income levels, and address the root causes of housing shortages and affordability. In addition to its original rental subsidy and voucher program services, Housing Assistance offers homelessness prevention and outreach services, shelter services, and permanent and transitional supportive housing. Further, Housing Assistance offers first time home buyer courses, and as the only HUD-approved housing counseling agency serving the Cape and Islands, the organization provides housing counseling on issues such as foreclosure prevention, reverse mortgages, and other housing related matters.

Through its many services and programs, Housing Assistance works to bridge the gap between homelessness and homeownership to support the vision of a year-round Cape Cod community where everyone has access to housing and a stable place to call home. Over the last 50 years, the organization has assisted more than 200,000 residents, provided shelter to over 20,000 people, and built over 585 affordable housing units across the Cape and Islands. Housing Assistance has established itself as a leader in the community by creating housing solutions for families at a variety of income levels and working to address some of the greatest challenges in access to housing.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Housing Assistance, and I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking the organization for its unwavering commitment to supporting the residents of the Cape and Islands and improving access to affordable housing.

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