Delegates Demand Regional Action to Address Housing Crisis
Assembly Eyes April Committee Meeting to Consider Regional Solutions
For Immediate Release March 20, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) — Members of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates called for urgent regional action to address Cape Cod’s deepening housing crisis following presentations from the Cape Cod Commission and the Barnstable County Department of Human Services at Wednesday’s Assembly meeting.
Kristy Senatori, Director of the Cape Cod Commission, underscored the severity of the housing crisis, emphasizing the impact of skyrocketing home prices and wage stagnation. “The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the housing challenges that we have had historically,” Senatori said. “The urgency of taking action moving forward regionally is now.”
The Commission’s regional housing strategy and a presentation on the county’s new Shared Housing Services Pilot Project prompted a robust discussion among delegates on the need for coordinated county-wide efforts.
Pushing back on concerns that new housing strategies might undermine Cape Cod’s character, Deputy Speaker Daniel Gessen said, “When people talk about protecting the ‘character of Cape Cod,’ it’s important to recognize that our housing policies have done less to preserve that character and more to protect property values.” Gessen warned that the region’s demographics are shifting dramatically, threatening the Cape’s identity as a family-centered community. “When I was born in 2000, the average age on Cape Cod was 40; today, it’s nearly 58. We’re losing the families that once defined our community—that’s why our school populations are shrinking, and why we’ve seen closures like the Falmouth maternity ward,” he added.
Delegate Michaela Wyman Colombo of Mashpee advocated for a redevelopment-first approach to minimize environmental impacts. “Is there a clear prioritization for redevelopment?” she asked. “Because I believe that is a strategy we can begin to implement without disturbing environmentally sensitive lands.” She also emphasized the importance of creating deed restrictions to ensure long-term affordability.
Delegate Jon Fuller of Orleans welcomed the increased focus on attainable housing. “Finally someone is bringing attention to the difference between affordable and attainable housing,” Fuller said. “There are public workers and working people in our communities that can’t afford to live here, and moving forward with a regional entity focused on attainable housing is going to be important to me.”
Echoing the need for continued dialogue, Speaker Potash emphasized that these discussions are only the beginning of the county’s efforts to address the crisis. “This is exactly the kind of critical regional issue where the Assembly can play a leadership role,” Potash said. “I look forward to the Cape Cod Commission joining us for a committee meeting in April to continue this important conversation.”
With Cape Cod’s housing crisis increasingly threatening local families, businesses, and services, delegates made clear that bold regional action is essential. As Gessen put it, “The true character of Cape Cod is at risk, and it’s up to us, the Assembly of Delegates, to adopt thoughtful housing strategies that welcome working families to make a life in our communities.”
ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates is the legislative branch of Cape Cod Regional Government. Fifteen Delegates, one elected by each town, enact ordinances and appropriate the County’s annual operating and capital budgets.
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov
