Needy Fund helps a young couple expecting their first child to secure a safe place to live
The lack of affordable housing on the Cape can be hard on young people trying to make it on their own, especially when living with family or friends is not an option.
A young Mid-Cape couple was expecting their first child when the basement apartment that they rented was deemed unsafe in which to live.
One had a full-time job in health care, but the other fell ill with a debilitating condition and was unable to work.
With no place to live, the couple was getting by on a single income as they waited for their disability insurance to be approved.
Cape Cod rental housing shortage: Middle-income families struggling to find a home
Affordable housing: Senate bill would add $3.5 million to Cape housing efforts
Move-in costs were too much
After months of searching, they finally found a place that they could afford month to month, but move-in costs were greater than the amount they had saved up.
The Needy Fund stepped in and took care of the young family’s rent for the first month.
Now, the couple can welcome a new life into a safe, stable environment.
Many human service agencies offer assistance to those in need, but the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund has been helping with a host of immediate, short-term emergencies such as food, rent, medical costs and other basic expenses since 1936.
No cash is given to Needy Fund recipients. Instead, the organization pays vendors through a voucher program. The case described above was provided by the Needy Fund on condition of anonymity.
Disabled, elderly, and homeless: Needy Fund helps Mid-Cape senior secure a home
More: Needy Fund helps young family keep their home
How to donate to the Needy Fund
Donations, which are tax deductible, may be made at needyfund.org. Checks also can be made payable to the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund and mailed to Cape Cod Times Needy Fund, P.O. Box 36, Hyannis, MA 02601.
Those needing help may contact the Needy Fund at 508-778-5661 or 800-422-1446.
Questions can be emailed to info@needyfund.org. The Needy Fund is also on Facebook (facebook.com/NeedyFund) and Twitter (@NeedyFund).
Total Contributions To Date; $520,044.46
Maureen Wilkens;$100,000
Anonymous;$12,000
In memory of special friends Steve and Laurie Hayes from Lee and Carol Burgess;$1,000
The United Way of Rhode Island matching a donation from Dena and Ken Carlone;$1,000
MaryEllen and Francis Lacroix;$1,000
Ross R. Coppelman Goldsmith Inc.;$1,000
Anonymous;$600
In memory of Laurie Jean Hayes;$500
John Edmonston;$500
Betsey and Ken Cheitlin;$500
Joseph Rizzo and Mary Ryan;$500
Cornel J. Faucher and Mary Beth Rooney;$500
Sarah A. Rothermel;$500
Nancy K Wilbur;$500
Harry and Katherine Alverson;$500
Sheila Gargano;$500
In celebration of the wedding of Deborah Wadmond and Karle Packard from John and Mary Beth Birchby;$400
Barnstable High School Class of 1963 reunion;$393.23
United Way Of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley;$373.36
Janet and James Cochrane;$350
Barbara Smith;$350
Teri and Bill Cavanagh;$350
Daniel and Lisa Desmarais;$250
Karen Otto;$250
Shelley Dawson;$250
Vanessa Parks and Jim Amorello;$250
William and Mary Regan;$250
HJM Realty Trust;$250
In loving memory of Kath and Maud Ann Kirk;$250
God bless the needy;$225
In memory of Don Campbell;$200
Paula A. Johnson;$200
Jeanne Hays;$200
David and Penny Bergeson;$200
Sharon and Fred Johanson;$200
Honoring the memory of Gordon Howe of Chatham;$200
The Judelson Family;$200
Carol Cichy;$200
John and Elaine Cahill;$200
Mark Flaherty;$200
Christie Turner;$200
In memory of our daughters Jackie and Jane from John and Diane Elliott;$200
Roland Kelley;$200
Tom and Marcia VanderVoort;$200
LeRoy and Antoinette Malouf;$150
Linda Broughton;$10
In memory of Margaret Lansing from Fred and Joan Gabriel;$100
Francis Miller;$100
Roy and Patricia Gatto Hechavarria;$100
Hugh and Lorraine White;$30
Amy Natiello;$25
Ann E. Aghababian;$100
In memory of Joan Rogers from Skip and Sandy Scudder;$50
In memory of Leo Gildea from Skip and Sandy Scudder;$50
In memory of Ada Coventon from Skip and Sandy Scudder;$50
In honor of Peter Scarafile's birthday from Deborah Converse;$25
Lois Callahan;$25
Anonymous;$100
In memory of Rev. John J. Perry from Rev. Richard S. DeVeer;$100
Bill and Jean Unger;$50
Bourne United Methodist Church Women;$175
Carol McCabe;$25
The Walker Family;$50
Mike and Joanie Perna;$50
In memory of Nona Martin;$100
Anonymous;$50
Patricia A. White;$50
In memory of Bob Hoey from Maureen Hoey;$25
Paul and Mary Ellen Hewins;$100
Peter Howell;$50
Jim and Betty Cullen;$100
Anonymous;$52
Richard Mitzner;$50
Bruce and Patricia White;$50
In honor of Jackie Schrafft and Cindy Petri for their September birthdays;$150
Sonja J. Riordan;$25
Muriel Thomas;$25
T. Scott Collins;$25
Diane L. Sciuto;$50
In memory of Andrea Pedersen from Errol M. Chamsarian;$50
Judith and William Page;$100
Lee Adams;$100
Anonymous;$100
Rosemary Keenan;$20
Anonymous;$15
Anonymous;$50
Deon and Eleni Theoharidis;$50
The Joseph DaLuz Family;$50
Wanda Nevins;$25
In loving memory of Dorothy Glidden from Ken and Ann Berg;$50
Judith M. Verny;$50
John and Johanna Crosby;$100
Richard and Nancy Kelly;$100
Lewis and Maureen Andujar;$50
Melora North;$50
Sandra P. Picariello;$100
Anonymous;$25
Rachel Crosby;$25
Carol and Bruce Barnard;$50
Michael and Eileen Birch;$50
John and Kathy Cuddy;$100
In memory of our loved ones from Cheryl and Nelson Belanger;$150
Richard and Kelly Peckham;$100
Sandra Rice;$100
Joseph and Edna Holland;$50
Robert and Johanna Maryanski;$100
In memory of Traci;$25
In memory of Robert F. Pons from Barbara and Thomas Pons;$25
Gail Cronin;$50
Carolyn Richardson;$50
Jane Cronin;$100
Judy and Dick Knowles;$25
Irene and Walter Lesniaski;$100
Thank you and in honor of Mariana Duncan for her time and energy;$100
James and Margaret Ledwell;$100
Susan and Chester Yacek;$50
Gene and Diane Greene;$15
Liz Green;Realtor;$150
Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCluskey;$52
Nita and Michael Pigo-Cronin;$25
The Akins;$100
Eugenie S. Shaw;$25
Anonymous;$25
Pamela l Flynn;$50
Paypal Charitable Giving Fund;$94
In memory of Elizabeth Reed;$50
David and Cynthia Cayton;$10
Anonymous;$50
Richard and Patricia Tucker;$60
Anonymous;$100
Susan and R. Keith Salisbury;$100
Julie D'Andrea;$30
Gary Roberts;$50
In honor of my wife, Mary;$103
George and Catherine Ferreira;$50
William and Donna Eident;$100
Alan and Sue Porretti;$100
Tracy and Richard Weeks;$50
In memory of our father Mario Miele;$100
Jane Behan;$25
In honor of all first responders from Elizabeth M. Brady and Carol S. Field;$100
Peter, Pal, Hobo, Zephyr, Tuffy;$100
Robert Welch;$25
Rene Guenette;$100
In memory of our cousin David N. Bouldry from Harold and Linda Torrey;$50
Anonymous;$50
Paula Degree;$50
In memory of James Healy;$100
Anonymous;$50
Paul and Marilyn Kreckler;$100
Joseph and Frances Garfield;$100
Virginia Clarendon;$100
Anonymous;$15
Given to celebrate the birthday of our friend and neighbor on Cape Cod, Barbara Denver from Lisa and James Graham;$50
Judith A. Johnson;$25
In memory of Jack Bolton from Kristine and Peter Fisher;$50
Catherine and Steven Manni;$20
Anonymous;$10
Denis and Kathleen Casaubon;$100
Joan Wright;$100
Leslie Plante;$25
Phyllis Willman;$100
Donald B. Curran;$20
Frances Galdi;$15
Evelyn and Alan Dewar;$50
Patricia Dowd;$25
Cindy and John Harper;$100
William and Patricia Roberts;$100
Kenneth and Elizabeth Smith;$100
Hartley A. Johnson;$100
Helen and Hank Rakov;$50
In memory of Edward & Yoland Tavares and Fred & Tess O'Neal;$100
Mary M. MacMillan;$100
Barbara Luss;$100
In memory of Donald and Marcia Durfor;$25
Thomas G. Lamont;$25
William Barnes;$100
Paul and Suzanne Nelson;$15
Byron and Linda Fulcher;$100
Peg and Dan Sullivan;$100
In memory of Edward Blute Sr.;$150
Anonymous;$50
Phyllis A. Dunn;$25
Wes Slate and Georgia Bills;$25
Helen G. Linnehan;$50
James Walsh;$50
Cheryl Miller;$50
Anita and David Powell;$75
Charles and Mary McCarthy;$100
James and Geraldine Medeiros;$100
James and Eileen Fair;$25
Connie E. Kelly;$100
In memory of Rose and Peter Houmere from Karen and Michael Reddish;$25
In memory of family and friends who have passed away from Barbara Gold;$25
Carol and Frank Murphy;$35
Thomas P. Niejadlik;$100
Anonymous;$25
Ed and Shirley Larsen in memory of Betty Jacques;$100
Mary Steede;$25
Jac and Susan McLean;$50
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Needy Fund helps couple expecting child secure safe place to live