Barnstable County assistance programs

Find how to get help with bills, rent, and other expenses

Thousands of people across southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod are struggling and need help with bills, debt, rent, and other costs. The Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands (CACCI) is one local nonprofit agency that they can turn to for aid. It administers several different programs that can provide people with help, and they also can refer people to other charities and organizations. Some of the what they offer is noted below.

The CACCI agency is one of the many community action agencies located across Massachusetts. They continue to serve families and individuals in the local community. Some of the resources and services they provide include helping clients obtain food stamps, they can apply for and refer people to fuel and heating assistance programs, offer free health care, help people with medical bills, and offer free child care; the agency can provide free food and clothing through its emergency pantry, Missie’s Closet; and they also offer general counseling and advice.

Some of the other resources include:

Financial and debt counseling

With the average household in the US carrying credit card and medical debt of approximately $10,000 to $12,000, and holding on average 9 credit cards, the agency realizes that people need help eliminating this debt. So they can both provide people with debt help, and refer them to other local agencies or programs. For example, they can refer them to debt settlement and credit card hardship programs. They help people with creating budgeting spending plans to reduce their expenses and bills, and also help them deal with fears that may result from financial planning.

Rent Help

The agency can both offer people direct access to their own rental assistance programs, and they can refer people to other local and government programs. For example, they offer the Rental Housing Assistance Program (RHAP). This program will help people pay the difference between the rent they must pay and the amount they can pay, so it is a subsidy program. If someone does not qualify, the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands may be able to refer people to federal government programs, such as the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This program offers eviction prevention grants, and funds for other housing costs such as utility bills and security deposits.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

This is a federal government funded energy bill program. LIHEAP will help qualified families pay for their home heating bills, air conditioning and cooling expenses, and any other energy costs. In addition, funds may be available to helping people weatherize their homes so they can reduce their energy bills. Thousands of people are supported by these program every year.

To apply or learn more about these programs, stop by the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands at 115 Enterprise Road, Hyannis, MA 02601, or call them at (508) 771-1727.