Champ Homes Receives Grant from Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office

Champ Homes, a local non-profit providing transitional housing and support services to Cape Cod residents, recently received a $5,000.00 grant award from the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office to further their Transitional Housing Assistance Program.

Champ Homes’ ongoing mission is to provide transitional housing to adults on Cape Cod who are homeless or near homeless in a safe, compassionate, respectful environment, where they instill confidence and hope by providing life skills, mentoring, vocational opportunities, and self-advocacy.

Champ Homes is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving men and women, age 18 and older, on Cape Cod who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness — many of whom are challenged by mental, physical, or emotional disabilities; and are recovering from addiction.

Transitional Housing is an intermediate step between emergency shelters and permanent housing. It is more long-term (generally 2 years) and service-intensive than homeless shelters.

The program addresses immediate concerns such as hot showers, clean towels, clothing and toiletries, an address and mail services, one prepared meal a day and food to make their own breakfast and lunch. However, once participants have established a place here, the program goes much further. Participants work closely with a team of care coordinators to navigate housing applications, obtain employment, and learn how to advocate for themselves.

The goal of the program is to get clients back on their feet and to a place of regained self-sufficiency. In the last 12 months, of the Champ Homes clients who moved on from the program, 65% successfully transitioned to long-term sustainable housing.

The Champ Program has been a proven approach to addressing homelessness on the Cape since opening their doors almost 30 years ago—having proudly served nearly 3,000 individuals in that time. This program is unique to Cape Cod and strives to meet the individual needs of each client who seeks assistance. It is unique in how it runs as a community of people—people who are benefiting from the care, compassion, and support of others.

Champ Homes believes in the value of providing a refuge where love, respect, and support enable each person to overcome the difficulties that led to their homelessness. It is through this caring, individualized program that participants can learn to thrive, sustain independent living, and regain their ability to be productive members of society.