History of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod

In January of 1988, Habitat for Humanity International volunteers Phoebe and Dick Soule, along with Helen and Wells Grogan, started working on Cape Cod with some members of First Parish Church in Brewster to determine if there was any interest in starting a Habitat affiliate on Cape Cod. There was a groundswell of enthusiasm on the Lower Cape and in the spring the towns of Wellfleet and Brewster voted at their town meetings to donate land to Habitat. In September of 1988, when Habitat for Humanity International was in its 12th year, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod (HHCC) was granted affiliation status.

The first home, planned for Wellfleet, was to be built as an addition to a summer cottage that the National Seashore sold to Habitat for $1. The cottage had to be moved to the Wellfleet site and it was a difficult project, but two churches, Dennis Union Church and the Federated Church of Hyannis, which had been supporting Habitat’s international work, turned their support to our local affiliate. At this time, HHCC formed a Family Selection committee and acquired a Project Manager. The homeowner chosen for the first home was a carpenter by trade and he put in many more “sweat equity” hours than required. The first HHCC home was dedicated in November of 1989.

The second home in Brewster was entirely new construction and was completed by December 1990.

In 1992, Centerville donated a home and land to HHCC. This became our first “rehab” and our third Habitat home. HHCC started an ongoing rehab program as part of the affiliate’s activities, which kept volunteers busy when no new construction was taking place, and also offered assistance to people who could not repair their homes or afford to hire professionals to do the necessary repairs. In the same year, HHCC divided the affiliate into three chapters to allow volunteers from the Upper, Mid, and Lower Cape to travel to meetings closer to where they lived. Each group elected a chairperson who represented the chapter at the Board of Directors' meetings.

Prior to 1994, the affiliate business had been conducted in the homes of various volunteers and then in a small office, open only a few hours a week in Orleans. In 1994, a decision was made that the affiliate needed more office space, regular hours and a director. The office was moved to West Yarmouth, which was located close to the center of the Cape, and a director was hired on a part-time basis. The new affiliate office was open five days a week and staffed by the director, volunteers, and occasionally part-time hired office help. During 1994 two homes were completed in Eastham and Mashpee.

In 1995, two homes were completed in Wellfleet and South Yarmouth. The South Yarmouth home was sponsored by Mid Cape Home Center in honor of their 100 th Anniversary.

In 1996, four homes were completed, one each in Forestdale and West Yarmouth, and two in Wellfleet. The West Yarmouth home was a blitz build and was completed in one week. A Habitation Ceremony followed this event at which Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International, was the guest speaker.

In 1997, two homes were completed, in Marstons Mills and in Harwich. The Harwich home was our first all women build.

In the following five years, HHCC built 13 more homes: one each in Marstons Mills (1998), Truro (1999), Eastham (1999), West Dennis (2001), Osterville (2001), South Chatham (2001), and West Yarmouth (2002); two in Orleans (2000 & 2002); and four were completed in Mashpee (1998 & 2001).

Meanwhile, in October 1999, HHCC hired a full-time Executive Director. The full-time staff expanded in August 2002 to include a Director of Resource Development & Communications followed by a Director of Construction Services in February 2003. A three-quarter-time Office Manager soon followed.

Additional space was needed for the new staff and in March 2003 the Habitat office moved across the street and into a brand new office space, which was entirely designed and remodeled by volunteers. In 2003, four homes were completed, two each in Provincetown and South Chatham.

In 2004, seven homes were completed with one in Bourne, two in Mashpee, and four in Hyannis. Six more homes are under construction in Hyannis. With the completion of the Bourne home, HHCC has built at least one home in all 15 towns of Cape Cod.

Upon completion of the six Hyannis homes, HHCC will have built 44 homes on Cape Cod, providing more than 60 adults and 105 children with decent affordable housing over the years.

At present, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod continues to maintain an office in West Yarmouth which is open five days a week and is staffed by a full-time Executive Director, Director of Resource Development & Communications, Director of Construction, an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, and a three-quarter-time Office Manager.

HHCC currently has 42 Covenant Churches on Cape Cod supporting the Habitat mission.

HHCC mails out bimonthly newsletters to 3800 volunteers and contributors on Cape Cod.

(updated 08/2004)

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