A Message from our President

Fourth of July, and so many of us paused to enjoy the warm summer sunshine, time outdoors, and family cookouts.  Homelessness, however, never takes a holiday.  It is ongoing, sometimes hidden from your sight in the woods, in parking lots, or on a kind friend’s couch.  But trust us, it’s there.

Can you imagine trying to remain healthy and safe without access to proper sanitation and hygiene, like frequent hand washing?  Without being able to cook a meal?  Without an address for a response, applying for benefits becomes a major problem.

Best projections are that homelessness will grow by an astounding 40-45% by year end as a direct result of the pandemic (source: cnn.com, May 15, 2020).  Prolonged unemployment and a growing number of evictions are creating a new wave of homeless people.  To respond to this, Belonging to Each Other will be extending our season by one month, from five to six months, starting on October 15th.  We are spending the summer months completing our pandemic plan to include larger rental properties to allow for social distancing and higher caseloads; procedures to quarantine incoming guests and to provide necessary protective equipment; and increased cleaning and monitoring.

Can you help keep the most vulnerable among us safely housed during this deadly pandemic?   Your donation will support additional housing, protective equipment, and cleaning supplies.  It will also go toward transportation for clients—bus cards and taxi vouchers—so they can get to the Falmouth Service Center, to medical appointments, to a pharmacy, and to their jobs.  And it will go toward active case management to help clients navigate the social services network and obtain benefits that will help them transition out of homelessness.

Here’s what your donation can mean.

$30 provides a bus pass for one month for one homeless individual
$90 provides protective equipment for one week for our women’s house
$185 provides a roof and supportive services for a homeless individual for one week

These are challenging times, especially for people without a place to call home.  Your contributions change that dynamic and literally you help save lives.  We are so grateful for your support.  If you could only see how a person evolves over time when well nourished, when under medical care, when emotional and social needs are addressed.  If you could only see the unfiltered joy when someone leaves our program and moves into permanent housing.  Love, kindness and respect are so powerful in transforming people’s lives.   Please consider contributing now to help people have a place to call home each night.

Blessings,

Paul McCadam
President and CEO