Cape Residents and Businesses Donate to HAC’s 2016 Shelter Cape Cod Telethon

DENNIS PORT – Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) held their 2016 Shelter Cape Cod Telethon on Thursday night.

The event serves as a major fundraiser that supports HAC’s shelters and last year’s fundraiser supported over 175 families. 

Nearly 500 homeless men and women and more than 190 children were placed in HAC’s shelters last year.

“We certainly are an agency whose philosophy is yes,” said HAC founder Rick Presbrey. “When we get a request for help from a person in need, we say yes, we don’t look at the bottom line and we don’t look at our budget, we say yes.”

The event featured performances from children’s choirs and local musicians, as well as commentary on the issues of homelessness and affordable housing from leaders in politics, nonprofits and other agencies.

HAC offers a range of services to individuals and families in the region, including case management programs which check in on formerly homeless individuals who are now housed, homeless prevention outreach and housing placement.

“We have fairly low-wage industries here on the Cape, so the effect is that it’s very hard for people to go to work and make family sustaining wages in some of these occupations, especially when the housing is among some of the more expensive housing in the region,” said David Augustinho, president of HAC’s board of directors.

At last year’s telethon, over $95,000 was donated by residents and businesses that benefits HAC’s four homeless shelters in Hyannis, North Falmouth and Bourne.

The totals for 2016 were still being counted late Thursday night, but had already reached $72,000 by 9 p.m.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter

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