Champ Homes Receives Yawkey Foundation Grant in Support of Youth and Young Adults

Champ Homes, a CHHSM member that provides transitional housing and support services to Cape Cod residents from its base in Hyannis, Mass., recently received a $25,000 grant from the Yawkey Foundation. The grant will help support the Youth & Young Adult group that is part of Champ Homes’ 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. The goal of the program is to get participants back on their feet and to a place of regained self-worth and self-sufficiency. In 2021, of the Champ Homes’ participants who have moved on from the program, more than 70 percent of those individuals successfully transitioned to long-term sustainable housing.

Since Champ Homes’ Youth & Young Adult Group (YYA) launched in January 2019, it has served 14 youth and young adults ranging in age from 18 to 24. The group currently has four participants living at Champ Homes. Champ Homes anticipates the number of youth and young adult participants to average at least seven per year.

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 for participants to make their own breakfast and lunch. However, once participants have established a place at Champ Homes, the program goes much further. Participants work closely with a team of care coordinators to navigate continuing education, access healthcare, housing applications, obtain employment, and learn how to advocate for themselves.

The Champ Homes Transitional Housing Assistance Program has been a proven approach to addressing homelessness on the Cape since opening their doors 30 years ago — serving more than 3,000 individuals in that time. The 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. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving individuals aged 18 and older — many of whom are challenged by mental, physical, or emotional disabilities; and are recovering from addiction.