Meeting of the Voters
SAVE THE DATE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 — 6 PM
Barnstable High School
Although we won the Zoning Board of Appeals decision to reverse the building permit at 460 West Main, renovations continue. We need to present alternative solutions to Town Officials now to ensure that previous plans do not get resurrected.
Join NANN and our Community looking to not only stop the relocation of the Winter Street Shelter to 460 West Main Street, but to change the failed policies and take back control of our community. We want REAL changes and REAL solutions!
Over 650 of you signed our petition last spring to have the opportunity to voice your concerns to Town officials over the following issues:
Creating a municipal Human Services Department;
Decentralizing regional homeless services across the Cape;
Quantifying the police, fire and business impacts of shelters;
Reclaiming policy control from non-profits; and
Implementing PILOT* agreements.
*A PILOT is a "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement that leverages non-profits within Barnstable to become better ciitzens by providing priority access to their services for Barnstable residents.
We will be emailing you every day with much more information and answering your questions too. Feel free to contact us by replying to this email and forwarding this message to your neighbors and friends.
The decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals relied entirely on the legal question of the Dover Amendment and its exemption for educational and religious organizations.
Below are some of the key questions that we wanted answered in the Appeal process. But, the Zoning Board of Appeals focused entirely on the applicability of the Dover Amendment.
The verified backgrounds of those utilizing the shelter?
Where do they go, if the shelter is full?
Why are they forced to leave at 7AM?
Where do they go after 7AM?
Why was zoning bypassed in the permitting process?
Why were solutions not sought decades ago when complaints surfaced?
Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need (NANN)
NANN is a community advocacy group focused on local zoning, shelter policies, and homelessness advocacy to support:
Our Neighbors in Need who require individualized, safe, and structured care.
Local Residents who deserve a safe neighborhood for school children, elderly residents, nearby neighbors, and retail customers.
Business Owners & Visitors looking to preserve the economic health and beauty of Hyannis.
Providing individualized, customized care.
No institution needed.
Emblematic of failed shelter policies.
460 West Main is near 4 schools — high risks.
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NANN—Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need: we are a community based group of neighbors who want the BEST, NOT ONLY FOR our Neighbors In Need, BUT ALSO FOR residents, business owners and customers, and for everyone who comes to Hyannis to enjoy its beauty.
Please note we are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. We appreciate supportive voices, but please note all NANN info is in this site only.
Our highest priority is our NEIGHBORS IN NEED, those men and women who are without homes. Anyone who says otherwise about us is using a smear tactic to avoid the truth about the current failing system of “care” that should not be anywhere in our community—not on West Main Street, and NOT ON WINTER STREET.
Members of NANN were having conversations with Catholic Charities, the agency that operates the current shelter on Winter Street, and who are proposing to move this failing program to West Main Street. Rick Brigham, who worked at the Winter Street shelter for 27 years, talked about how to improve the program, suggesting approaches that would better serve the Neighbors In Need, and better protect the surrounding community, but when it was time to create a “Good Neighbor Agreement” talks stalled.
Please note that Housing Assistance Corporation is only the landlord, although they are working closely with Catholic Charities, and they seem to be speaking for Catholic Charities, sharing information that often raises questions.
When talks with Catholic Charities stalled, and when the building permit was granted by the Building Commissioner, to relocate the shelter to West Main Street, in contradiction to the opinion of the Town Attorney, bypassing local zoning laws by using a religious exemption, we of NANN, and many others in the community, started asking questions. Rick, while working at the shelter, because of state funding, could not speak of his faith. How are they now claiming a religious exemption? Why would the state be funding this?
It became clear that we had to take steps to intervene for the sake of all neighbors.
We filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals to reverse the building permit. THE HEARING IS JUNE 10 AT 7 PM AT THE TOWN HALL. Please come fill the room and, if you are comfortable, speak against this threatening catastrophe.
There also seemed to be questions about the involvement in this process within the town government, and so we petitioned to have an OPEN MEETING OF THE VOTERS. We were able to obtain nearly 700 signatures, well over the number needed for this. Many of our neighbors want to know what’s going on. The time and place for this meeting are being negotiated. Sign up below to receive email updates, to know when and where we will meet. We plan to expose all questions and insist on truthful answers.
We neighbors have many questions. The information, questions and solutions that have been collected are in the pages below. Select a topic, click on the link to open the page, take your time, let us know if we have wrong information, or if you would add information, and or if you have questions, and if you know of other solutions. Let us know in the “Stay Informed” section at the bottom of this page.
NANN plans to stay involved with this until homelessness in Hyannis is resolved.
Please join us by staying informed, by signing up below, and by letting family, friends and associates know.
Our Neighbors In Need deserve the best care. All of us deserve a safe and orderly community.