Housing Assistance Announces New Board Members

Leaders Will Bring Diverse Community Perspectives to Address Housing Crisis on Cape Cod

HYANNIS, Mass. (Sept. 3, 2026) – Housing Assistance, a Cape and Islands nonprofit focused on addressing housing insecurity for residents through emergency shelter, subsidy and educational programs, and the development of housing, today announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors.

The new directors are:

• Cherian Armstrong, teacher at Monomoy Regional High School
• Justin Blair, managing partner at Monomoy Real Estate and Construction
• Deborah Nugnes, director of staff development for the Home Care Program at Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands
• Ann Rebello, retired Housing Assistance executive assistant and board liaison

“The housing crisis on Cape Cod continues to touch every corner of our community and meeting that need requires thoughtful governance and a deep understanding of the people we serve,” said Housing Assistance Board Chair Bill Bogdanovich. “Our new board members bring different perspectives that are shaped by their own experiences in education, housing, health care, and community service. These perspectives will help us tremendously as we continue to respond to the challenges facing our neighbors.”

“Housing affects every part of a person’s life, and the best solutions come from listening to people with different experiences and viewpoints,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “Cherian, Justin, Deborah, and Ann reflect the breadth of our community, and their insight will help shape the decisions we make as we implement our new strategic plan and expand access to safe, stable, affordable, and attainable housing.”

In addition to her role as a teacher at Monomoy Regional High School, Armstrong serves on the Board of Directors for both the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association. She is a member of the Nauset Interfaith Council’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Action Team and facilitates the Y Achievers Club, a program dedicated to mentoring BIPOC and First Generation students to achieve their college and career goals. The Harwich resident is a passionate advocate for affordable housing, food security, and health care, issues that are fundamental to human dignity and community wellbeing.

As the managing partner of Monomoy Real Estate and Construction, Blair is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the firm he founded in 2005. He serves the Cape Cod community as a member of the Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation Board of Directors, the Lower Cape Outreach Council Board of Directors, Housing Assistance’s capital campaign committee, and the chair of the YMCA Cape Cod’s golf tournament. The Chatham resident earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross.

Before joining Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Nugnes worked as a social worker in the juvenile justice system for state agencies and nonprofit organizations. She now also serves as a committee member for the Older Adult Housing Stability Campaign with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. A fourth-generation Cape Codder and Hyannis resident, Nugnes is a graduate of Cape Cod Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Boston.

For 30 years, Rebello worked with Housing Assistance and served in numerous roles, including as housing consumer education specialist and in the organization’s administration and finance departments. The Yarmouth resident participated in the organization’s first-time homeowner’s program and served the Cape Cod community as a volunteer within the Yarmouth School System and on the Yarmouth Affordable Housing Committee.

With the new appointments, the Housing Assistance board has expanded to a total of 15 directors. In addition to Chair Bogdanovich, the board’s Executive Committee includes Vice Chair Alex Rodolakis, Treasurer Andrea Silbert, Clerk Ashley Moore Baker, and At-Large Member Dr. Kumara Sidhartha.

About Housing Assistance

Housing Assistance has provided a spectrum of services to help our homeless and vulnerable neighbors secure a safe, stable place to call home since 1974. These programs and services include homeless outreach, family shelters, rental vouchers, affordable housing development, energy efficiency programs, and first-time homebuyer support. Housing Assistance also works to address the root causes of housing instability – lack of inventory and lack of affordability – that affect almost all income levels in our region. To learn more, visit www.haconcapecod.org.