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New program supports child care workers and others with rental assistance

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HYANNIS — Staffing shortages have plagued early childhood education for years, but the housing crisis has pushed the pressure to new heights, said Cindy Horgan, executive director of Cape Cod’s Children Place.

Child care workers and early childhood educators occupy a middle ground where they earn too much money to qualify for most affordable housing programs, but not enough to afford market-rate housing .

As an example of this housing affordability gap, one of Horgan’s teachers spends 50% of her salary on rent.

Cape Cod Children's Place Executive Director Cindy Horgan stands in front of the Eastham facility.

“I use the phrase ‘white knuckling it.’ You know, “God, let’s hope nothing happens to the car,” Horgan said.

Lack of manpower means she has had to cut her hours. The Children’s Place now closes at 3 p.m., offering little flexibility when a teacher calls in sick or someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Rental help is on the way

A new effort by Housing Assistance Corp. targeting child care workers and those who work with people with developmental disabilities aims to provide a solution.

THRIVE – Tools for Housing Residents in a Vulnerable Economy – participants will receive a fixed grant ($450 per month for up to 24 months) paid to their landlords. They will also work with a housing counselor to set financial goals with the goal of reducing expenses and/or increasing household income.

The goal is to provide economic mobility, said HAC chief executive Alisa Magnotta.

“It helps them breathe a little bit into their budget and allows them to live with a little more peace, thoughtfulness and intentionality,” she said.

Centraide supports the housing program

Donors to Cape and Islands United Way’s Best Night event in late June pledged $75,000 during their ‘fund a need’ portion of their annual flagship event. He was immediately matched with $60,000 from the Cape and Islands United Way Ronald Reed Endowment Fund and $50,000 from the Bilezikian Family Foundation, according to a press release.

Support from United Way patrons, the Board of Trustees and the Bilezikian Family Foundation will help cover funding for THRIVE in its first year. Centraide’s board twinning comes from its Ronald Reed Endowment Fund. Reed was a longtime Cape Cod banker and philanthropist.

The second year of THRIVE will be primarily funded by a state-guaranteed ARPA grant Sens. Julian Cyr and Susan Moran.

The Brewster Woods housing project is expected to be completed in September.

THRIVE targets child care workers, those who serve people with disabilities

Eligible THRIVE recipients are Cape Cod households spend more than 30% of their income on rent; have a written lease or rental agreement; and live in a unity that is not subsidized by another program. Households have a member who is employed in one of THRIVE’s target industries (child care and disability services).

Applications and more information are available at https://haconcapecod.org/thrive/.

The program follows a pilot program last year in which participants learned how to reduce debt, open savings accounts, improve credit or create plans to eventually become homeowners. Eight companies were targeted in the pilot, with occupations including certified nursing aides, bank tellers, restaurant workers and child care workers.

Workers are a vital part of the community

With THRIVE, Magnotta said HAC decided to target child care workers and those who work with people with developmental disabilities because of the potential for the “multiplier effect.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without childcare – we depend on it so much and it’s such an important part of our lives and our community, it really touched me in a personal way,” she said.

Horgan, who has spread the word about the program to his colleagues, calls it “a blueprint for the future.”

“We have to be creative to meet that need,” she said. “Think outside the box, that’s the only answer.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Join her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.