Champ Homes Seeks Community Support for New Residence and Campus Hub
$5 Million Building Project will strengthen support for Cape Cod adults working toward stable, permanent housing.
HYANNIS, Mass. — Champ Homes is inviting community support for its $5 million capital campaign to build a new residential facility and campus hub on its Hyannis property, creating more functional and accessible spaces for Cape Cod adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability. With $2.5 million raised to date, Champ Homes welcomes donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to help raise the remaining $2.5 million. Support for this campaign will strengthen the nonprofit’s ability to help participants work toward stable, permanent housing.
Since 1991, Champ Homes has helped more than 3,000 people, from young adults to seniors, rebuild their lives through transitional housing and individualized support. Its substance-free Transitional Housing Assistance Program provides a place to live and meets immediate needs, including hot showers, clothing, toiletries, and food. Once participants are established, the program goes much further. Participants work with Community Care Coordinators to address the challenges that can make it difficult to secure and keep a home. Together, they identify and pursue individual goals, which may include finding employment, pursuing education or job skills, accessing healthcare, or managing their finances. Participants also learn or strengthen everyday skills, including cooking, budgeting, and caring for a shared living space.
Champ Homes houses up to 50 participants across its School Street campus. Approximately 30 people are housed in the main building, which also contains administrative offices, a kitchen, and shared spaces used for meals, activities, and everyday support.
Constructed in 1865, the main building is deteriorating, has become increasingly costly to maintain, and is poorly suited to the work. It has a leaking roof, structural and water damage, failing plumbing, faulty electrical systems, and inadequate climate control.
Beyond failing systems, the building’s layout limits how Champ Homes can support participants. An uneven mix of single, double, and triple rooms make it difficult to match accommodations to participants’ needs. At times, beds are available for men while women remain on a waiting list. Accessibility barriers include inadequate ADA access, makeshift wheelchair routes, and an expensive, inefficient elevator. Staff also lack adequate private space for confidential conversations and healthcare appointments.
“When someone comes to Champ Homes, they may be trying to find a job, take care of their health, or get back on their feet after a difficult period in their life. Having a safe place to live and people who work alongside them makes a real difference.”
“We need buildings that support that effort—with accessible rooms, privacy for personal conversations, and spaces where people can build the skills and connections they’ll take with them when they leave,” explains Adam Burnett, executive director.
The new residential building will house up to 30 participants, with rooms and spaces that can be flexibly configured to the changing needs of our community. It will include four accessible bedrooms for up to eight people with mobility challenges, modern shared bathrooms, common living spaces, and private rooms for case management and visiting healthcare professionals. The design will eliminate the need for the current costly elevator and will consolidate residential services on one side of School Street, improving safety and allowing campus spaces to better support the program.
The new Campus Hub will provide dedicated space for shared meals, essential resources, and community activities. It will include a commercial kitchen and dining area, food pantry, donation room, computer space, and reflection room. The Hub will support weekday meals prepared with volunteers and community partners and create more opportunities for their involvement.
Updated solar infrastructure, landscaping, and parking improvements are also planned. The project is designed to improve safety, privacy, and accessibility while reducing ongoing repair and operating costs, allowing more staff time and resources to go toward participant support.
Early campaign supporters include The Cape Cod Five Cents Foundation, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, and the FJ Brotherton Charitable Foundation.
For project details, the campaign video, or information about contributing, visit the campaign page.
To discuss a gift or naming opportunity, contact Adam Burnett at (508) 771-0885 or a.burnett@champhomes.org.