Housing Assistance Corporation is keeping its popular, annual Big Fix-A-Thon event going this year by shifting to a virtual event. Funds raised support Housing Assistance’s Cape-wide Workforce Housing Relief Fund.
“We made this decision to ensure the health and safety of volunteers as well as recipients of our Big Fix-A-Thon,” said Housing Assistance CEO Alisa Magnotta. “People can still make an impact by raising money for our Cape-wide rent and mortgage assistance to keep our neighbors who have been financially impacted by the pandemic stably housed.”
Now in its 11th year, the Virtual Big Fix-A-Thon was scheduled to come to Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 3, with volunteers making small repairs to homes owned by veterans, seniors and people living with a disability. Housing Assistance has postponed the in-person day-of-service component to fall 2021 when it will be held in Orleans.
“This year, volunteers can’t safely gather in numbers to do home repairs as we have done in the past,” said Magnotta. “But we can raise funds to help people stay safely housed. Now more than ever we all need a safe place to call home.”
Housing Assistance manages a wide range of state and local rent and mortgage assistance programs that serve the entire Cape and Islands. In April, the organization launched the Workforce Housing Relief Fund to help those directly affected by the pandemic, but who do not qualify for public programs like RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) and ERMA (Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance), both of which Housing Assistance oversees for every town on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Since mid-March, there has been a record spike in the number of households seeking rent and mortgage assistance to stay in their homes. Compared to the same period last year, Housing Assistance has witnessed a 325 percent increase in foreclosure prevention requests and a 413 percent increase in requests for help with past-due rent.
“The need is greater than ever and this year Virtual Big Fix-A-Thon fundraisers have the ability to fix our community by helping people stay housed,” Magnotta said.
To register as a Virtual Big Fix-A-Thon fundraiser as an individual or a group, visit www.haconcapecod.org. Participants can sign up now and complete their fundraising and service activities up until the culminating celebration day on Oct. 3. Participants are encouraged to share photos and videos on social media describing why they care about housing their neighbors and what giving back means to them.
Housing Assistance is also seeking sponsors for this year’s Virtual Big Fix-A-Thon. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Housing Assistance Event and Resource Development Coordinator Deanna Bussiere at dbussiere@haconcapecod.org or at 508-771-5400, ext. 270.
