Residential Life

Why Residential?

The AmeriCorps Cape Cod Program is unique as it is one of a select few residential AmeriCorps programs across the nation.

Finding affordable housing on Cape Cod is extremely difficult. By having dedicated housing, Corps members avoid the challenge of paying housing costs and are able to focus almost entirely on the performance of service. Barnstable County has partnered with the Cape Cod National Seashore, and the Town of Barnstable to provide housing for Corps members.

AmeriCorps Cape Cod houses all 20 members of the program during the service year. The houses are located in Wellfleet, Barnstable, and Bourne. Room size varies from two to four members sharing a room. All houses are outfitted with a washer and dryer, a computer and printer, a fully equipped kitchen, WIFI, and a common room with a television.

Every Wednesday, the members of each house sit down to a group dinner to foster a positive environment in the residences, as well as to go over the upcoming service schedule. This allows members to take some time to bond with each other and to build a strong and inclusive community.

By living and serving together, Corps members who hold a common interest are able to share knowledge, skills, humor, successes, failures, insights, strengths, challenges and experiences that create opportunities for individual and group growth. Furthermore, Corps members residing together are better able to mobilize and respond to disasters and other community needs in an extremely efficient and timely manner.

The residential aspect of AmeriCorps Cape Cod offers Corps members an extremely unique and incredibly valuable experience.