Information Resources and Related Links

The Cape Cod Commission provides housing-related information to towns, agencies, and individuals on a wide array of topics, including federal and state budgets, housing programs, data, successful strategies, and funding sources. This page offers resources on the following topics:

The Commission's efforts to secure funding, provide technical assistance, serve as a information clearinghouse and lead innovative efforts produce positive and tangible benefits for Cape Cod. The Commission intends to continue these efforts and give active support to local agencies, towns and organizations engaged in addressing the Cape's affordable housing needs. For more information on any of these activities contact the Commission's affordable housing specialist Paul Ruchinskas at (508) 362-3828 or send e-mail to: pruchinskas@capecodcommission.org

Chapter 40B:

• Affordable Housing Units in Barnstable County, October 2001 - March 2008 - data through 3/31/08
• An Inventory of Comprehensive Permits (Chapter 40B Developments) in Barnstable County - data as of 9/1/07 compiled by the Cape Cod Commission; PDF file posted 10/25/07
• Basics of Chapter 40B, December 2005 - a PowerPoint presentation converted to PDF file - posted 4/10/06
• Local 40B Review and Decision Guidelines: A Practical Guide for Zoning Boards of Appeal Reviewing Applications for Comprehensive Permits Pursuant to MGL Chapter 40B, by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership - posted 3/2/06
• Barnstable - New England Fund (NEF) Guidelines for Reviewing Chapter 40B Applications
• Barnstable - NEF Deed Restriction and Regulatory Agreement

Community Preservation Act (CPA):

• Community Preservation Act (CPA) and Affordable Housing Restrictions - PDF file posted 10/2/06

Data:

• NEW (4/29/08): National Low Income Housing Coalition: "Out of Reach" Data for Barnstable County Area - PDF file posted 4/29/08
• Cape Home Ownership Affordability Gap, 1997-2007 - updated PDF file posted 2/20/08
• Center for Housing Policy's 2007 Paycheck to Paycheck Analysis for Cape Cod: Home Ownership Market and Center for Housing Policy's 2007 Paycheck to Paycheck Analysis for Cape Cod: Rental Market - PDF files posted 2/20/08
• National Averages, 1972-2007 Thirty-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages - PDF file posted 2/3/08
• Wages and the Cost of Housing in Barnstable County, 2006 - updated PDF file 3/2/07
• Barnstable County Minority Population - Percentages by Town, from U.S. Census 2000 - posted as PDF file 3/7/05
• Barnstable County/Towns - Percent of Low- and Moderate-income Population - PDF file posted 5/16/03

Homelessness:

• 2007 Homeless Count Summary - prepared by the Leadership Council to End Homelessness, PDF file posted 8/13/07
• A Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness on Cape Cod and the Islands - finalized in February 2005 by the Leadership Council to End Homelessness; PDF file posted here 6/28/05
• Cape and Islands Homelessness Fact Sheet - April 2004 - posted as PDF file 5/25/04

Reports:

• Barnstable County Affordable Housing Annual Report - presented October 2007 to the Barnstable County Commissioners
• Effects of Mixed-income, Multi-family Rental Housing Developments on Single-family Housing Values - April 2005 report by the MIT Center for Real Estate - posted PDF file 3/2/07
• Meeting Local Housing Needs: A Practice Guide for Implementing Selection Preferences and Civil Rights Requirements in Affordable Housing Programs - September 2004 report by the Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) - posted PDF file 3/2/07
• UMass Donahue Institute/CHAPA Housing Poll 2006 - posted PDF file 3/2/07
• Age-restricted Active Adult Housing in Massachusetts: A Review of the Factors Fueling Its Explosive Growth and the Public Policy Issues It Raises - June 2005 report by the Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) - posted PDF file 3/2/07
• Barnstable County Nexus Study: A Study of the Relationship between Non-Residential Developments of Regional Impact and the Availability of Housing for Low- and Moderate-income Residents - a 53-page report prepared by John J. Ryan of Development Cycles, July 2005 - posted as a PDF file (760K) here 8/19/05
• Barnstable County Affordable Housing Annual Report - presented 11/17/04 to Barnstable County Commissioners; posted as PDF file 12/15/04

Zoning:

• Barnstable - Accessory Apartment Amnesty Ordinance
• Barnstable - Deed Restriction for Accessory Apartment Amnesty Program
• Brewster - Affordable Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Bylaw Amendment
• Dennis - Affordable Housing Bylaws
• Provincetown - Change of Use: Non-Residential to Residential Use Conversions
• Provincetown - Growth Management Bylaw
• Sandwich - Affordable Housing Conditional Density Bylaw
• Wellfleet - Accessory Apartment Bylaw
• Yarmouth - Motel Conversion Bylaw

Related Links:

Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC)
Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund (MHP)
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
MassHousing Finance Agency (MHFA)
National Low Income Housing Coalition
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - general information
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - regulations