#1

IS IT TRUE…

that, because of state funding, the shelter does not do a background check on anyone coming into the shelter—no checking for criminal warrants, sex offense registry, place of origin, nothing, no checking of Neighbors In Need coming from everywhere, and that the shelter is then putting these unknown Neighbors In Need into the community?

Solution:

Become a town-based response to Neighbors In Need and implement appropriate and respectful background checks.

IS IT TRUE…

…that NANN needs funds.

Yes. To this point we have been receiving contributions privately. Please note that NANN is not raising funds online. Those who are raising these funds are not currently affiliated with NANN.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us in the Stay Informed section and we will share our needs and tell you how you may contribute.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the McDonald’s, only a block away, was frighteningly attacked and property damaged by a man claiming to be Satan, whose current address is “the Winter Street homeless shelter.”

Yes, see the Hyannis News article in the “In the News” section.

At times the shelter will claim that those in the community are not staying in the shelter. However, people are coming from everywhere hearing about a free bed and meals.

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that one business, near the Winter St. shelter, had to hire a security person for the morning, from 6 am to 11 am, seven days a week, to handle the influx from the shelter?

We will invite this manager to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that this business near the Winter St. shelter has had overdoses in the bathroom?

We will invite this manager to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that this business has had to implement no trespass orders?

We will invite this manager to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that the manager of this business went to the shelter and was told by staff that the challenges were not “their problem”?

We will invite this manager to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that another business serving children had a man who was incontinent come into the business needing a bathroom, and that this Neighbor In Need came out fully exposed?

We will invite this manager to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 7

IS IT TRUE…

…that a church near the shelter has had to lock its doors during Sunday morning worship because of violence from a Neighbor In Need?

We will invite this pastor to attend the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 8 (continued)

IS IT TRUE…

…that some Neighbors In Need choose to ride for hours in the Regional Transit Authority B-Bus in order to be off the streets?

Reported by a B-Bus driver to a NANN member. We will invite this driver to our Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 9

IS IT TRUE…

…that family businesses, like the bowling alley and the carousel, are no longer on Main St.? Did this happen because families were less likely to come because of the sometimes frightening presence of some Neighbors In Need?

IS IT TRUE…that there were about 180 Neighbors In Need from Hyannis in 2024, that there are about 150 churches in Barnstable, and that if “each one helped one,” if each church helped one Neighbor In Need, that this could solve the homelessness challenge?

IS IT TRUE…that NANN needs funds.

Yes. To this point we have been receiving contributions privately. Please note that NANN is not raising funds online. Those who are raising these funds are not currently affiliated with NANN.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us in the Stay Informed section and we will share our needs and tell you how you may contribute.

IS IT TR…that there is no clear evidence of a classroom curriculum at the shelter?

IS IT TRUE…that the population in the shelter is aging, which causes questions about the effectiveness of agencies that are well paid to help the elderly?

NANN will invite Elder Services, which has a department called “Elders at Risk,” to our Open Meeting of the Voters to better understand their services and involvement with the shelter.

IS IT TRUE…

…that in 2025 there were about 180 calls from the shelter for Rescue, nearly one call for every 2 days, which is not the case for other programs housing Neighbors In Need?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…that there are 3 to 4 calls concerning issues with Neighbors In Need to the police every day in the summer?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that staff of the Fire Department are having Neighbors in Need coming to their door all hours of the day and night for food and blankets?

NANN is asking the Hyannis Fire Department, for whom we have great respect, appreciation and to whom we give our support, to provide all relevant statistics and related costs to the town.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and CC have been working in the shadows, in a “cloak of secrecy,” to push this relocation through so that the community would not know? In an interview on WXTK with Pat Desmarais, the CEO of HAC said they were not talking to the people because they did not want to jeopardize their building permit.

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that the CEO of HAC is avoiding engaging with the people of the town because she knows the shelter is not good for the community? That her main concern is more about properties and income than about taking care of the Neighbors In Need?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and CC are more focused on raising and using funds than on doing what is best and right for the Neighbors in Need and for the Neighbors of the community?

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that a Barnstable resident filed a complaint with the County because HAC and Catholic Charities may have engaged in questionable practices to be awarded $3 million, and that none of these funds have yet gone to help Neighbors in Need? (notonenewbed.mystrikingly.com)

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC received funds from the state for an “abandoned property,” claiming that 460 had been abandoned when, in truth, there were active businesses in the property and the lower floor was in very good condition?

NANN is inviting researchers to look into this.

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that Housing Assistance Corporation went to towns claiming that the property would be a new central resource center while the CEO of Catholic Charities was saying there would be no change to the program?

# 7

IS IT TRUE…

…that a claim was made that a new component would be a Duffy Health satellite in the shelter, when Duffy actually started in the previous NOAH Shelter, and so, is not a new component? Rick Brigham was Social Services Coordinator when Duffy was started. How much money will come into Duffy with this satellite?

# 8

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC is the landlord and has nothing to do with the operations of the shelter, except to continue to collect rent, and yet is making many claims about the program?

# 9

IS IT TRUE…

…that the CEO of Catholic Charities has said she wants to be a good neighbor and yet never responded to a Town Councilor who asked her to work together on a Good Neighbor agreement?

# 10

IS IT TRUE…

…that we can influence these organizations and their questionable practices by letting everyone in our circles know what they are doing, and so, lessen donations?

# 11

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC’s main office moved from 460 West Main to Independence Park, which is a better location for the shelter, which would also put it near High Point, which provides substance abuse treatment?

# 12

IS IT TRUE…

…that a successful housing program offered to purchase 460 but that this did not go through? Why did HAC not support this very effective solution to homelessness? If HAC used questionable practices to receive county funds and used them to pay off the mortgage of 460, wouldn’t the right thing be to donate 460 to this established and effective organization?

# 13

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC is actively looking to move the shelter from Winter St. because of a recent change in zoning that will allow HAC to make much more money at that location?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that there is a hearing to reverse the building permit given to HAC for the 460 West Main Street property?

Yes. It is scheduled to be with the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, June 10, at 7 pm, at Town Hall.

We welcome all to attend, to fill the room, and to speak if comfortable against this inappropriate bypassing of zoning law.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the policies of the shelter put Neighbors In Need out into the streets of the community every day, forcing those who have lost nearly everything into daily survival mode?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that everyone who stays in the shelter must leave by 7 am each morning?

According to current and former staff this is true, although recent information from the CEO of Catholic Charities has reported a difference. Is our advocacy affecting their policies?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that those who must leave in the morning include those with walkers, canes and those in wheelchairs?

A NANN member witnessed this on two separate occasions.

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that about a quarter (10 or 12) of the Neighbors In Need may return at 8:30 for the Day Program, which consists of watching television and maybe playing Bingo? That the shelter recently hired an activities director — was this to make it appear they are doing more because we are questioning what they are doing?

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that three-quarters of the Neighbors In Need are out in the community throughout the day? HAC and CC report that 50% are working, but this has not been verified. If ¼ are in the Day Program and ½ are working, that still leaves ¼ on the streets—the addicted? the mentally ill? the elderly? the sex offender?

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that all are required to return at about 3:30, walking through the streets to return?

According to current and former staff this is true, though we need to verify the times.

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that some Neighbors In Need have stayed for up to 18 months, one even up to three years, meaning these beds are not available for other Neighbors In Need?

NANN will invite Catholic Charities to compile data to share at the Open Meeting of the Voters.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the site being considered for a shelter could better serve the community if it were apartments for, for example, workers?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that the community would help locate the shelter if the program were improved and the community was included in finding a location?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that High Point is opening a 24-hour program in Independence Park to no push back from the community because it is 24-hour care?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that those with the challenges of mental illness are in a chaotic environment that adds to their challenges, bringing into question the effectiveness of agencies working with this population?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that NIMBY (“Not In My Back Yard”) is a phrase used to accuse those raising concerns about a bad program, to make it look like a group is against the Neighbors In Need, when, in fact, the group is standing against organizations that are not effectively managing the program?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that the program, by putting Neighbors In Need out on the street each morning, is creating an aversion to the Neighbor In Need? The Neighbor In Need is not the problem; they have needs and need help. The problem is the program that draws Neighbors In Need to the area and then creates a daily survival situation, causing many problems for everyone.

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and CC have created concern, fear, and misunderstanding of those who are the most in need among us?

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and CC have attracted those with mental illnesses, substance addiction, sexual offense, the poor, the weak, the elderly, even criminals into our community by providing a free bed and free meals, and then send these troubled and troubling people out daily onto the streets?

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and CC have not properly cared for Neighbors In Need, sending them out while they are in great need into the community to survive in the cold and heat without bathrooms or food?

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that there are those who will use a smear campaign in order to take the focus off their ineffectiveness so they can continue to do things that improve their finances while harming the Neighbors in Need and the surrounding community?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

IS IT TRUE…

…that NANN has obtained enough signatures to have an Open Meeting of the Voters?

Yes.

NANN has collected enough signatures to have a “Meeting of the Voters.” This meeting will expose the many questions about homelessness in Hyannis and we will advocate for truthful answers. The Greater Hyannis Civic Association, in January 2026, asked the town to have a meeting with HAC and Catholic Charities. This did not happen, and so we have submitted these questions.

We will choose 60 questions from these topics. During the meeting, similar to Town Council’s Public Comment, each respondent will have 2 minutes for “Comments to the Public.” This will allow us to cover much in 2 hours. Solutions, ultimately, may be up to us, all Neighbors. Perhaps we will need to vote with our wallets and at the polls.

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that a Neighbor In Need is able to come to Hyannis from every village in Barnstable, every town on the Cape, every town in Massachusetts, from other states, and from other countries? In 2024, 51 came from other Cape towns, 28 from other MA towns, 9 from other states, and 3 from another country. 33% of the 274 served were not from Barnstable.

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that state funds require the shelter to serve anyone who comes, so the shelter cannot serve those from Barnstable only, and are literally serving people from all over the world?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that in the 40 years the shelter has been in Hyannis, if 50 is an annual average of non-Hyannis Neighbors In Need, the shelter could have brought 2,000 Neighbors In Need into Hyannis?

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that towns throughout the Cape are being encouraged to think of the shelter as a regional solution and send their Neighbors In Need to Hyannis, profoundly burdening this already strained village?

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that Hyannis is carrying an inordinate burden of care for Neighbors In Need compared to all other villages of Barnstable and all towns of the Cape?

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that Portland, ME has a shelter model that serves only Neighbors In Need from Portland, and that, with planning, Barnstable could do the same?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the Police are very active throughout the community addressing the many challenges brought into Barnstable and Hyannis? What are the numbers of calls to individuals who are without homes?

NANN is asking the Barnstable Police Department, for whom we have great respect, appreciation and to whom we give our support, to provide all relevant statistics and related costs to the town.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the program puts all categories of Neighbors In Need—some vulnerable, some volatile—into one environment, so that, for example, the elderly are with drug abusers, and a woman with a mental illness is vulnerable to abuse?

Program History

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the Town of Barnstable asked Rick Presbrey, then Executive Director of HAC, to open a shelter for those who were homeless in Barnstable?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that it was the state funding that limited care to night time operations only?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that state funding demands the shelter accept people from any place of origin? If true, should we forgo state funds and fund a municipal shelter for the people of Barnstable only, encouraging all towns to take care of their own Neighbors In Need?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that HAC and Catholic Charities have sought to bypass zoning limitations for the 460 West Main Street location by claiming a religious exemption, although, because of state funding, there can be no religious programming?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that there are five schools in close proximity to the 460 West Main St. location (including the school at the Chabad Center) putting hundreds of students at risk?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that the Barnstable School Committee does not consider this relocation to be relevant to their work, although hundreds of students could be put at risk?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that the School Committee is considering additional SROs (Security Resource Officers) to counter this risk, which would add to the costs of schooling?

# 4

IS IT TRUE…

…that a member or members of the school committee has been meeting with HAC and Catholic Charities for over a year without notifying the other school committee members? The HAC CEO in the Pat Desmarais interview said they had been meeting with a former president and vice president of the Town Council, who is reportedly on the School Committee.

# 5

IS IT TRUE…

…that one school committee member may have a conflict of interest because of their past and current association with Housing Assistance Corporation?

# 6

IS IT TRUE…

…that a school on Main St. has had to train students to travel in groups and has had to train them in how “to handle the homeless”? What are they taught?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that Neighbors In Need are closely checked when they come into the shelter, using a “security wand” to ensure they have no paraphernalia or weapons, and yet these same people are going out into our community every day?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that there might, at times, be sex offenders among the population, and that there is no alerting the community to this fact? We were told by one town official that there are many sex offenders in the population. What is the truth?

# 1 — All Needs Met Triage

IS IT TRUE…

…that a pilot was conducted at the shelter in Hyannis that interviewed 40 people seeking access to the shelter, and that the interviewer was able to find solutions for them so that they didn’t need to come to the shelter?

Yes, this is true. This pilot was conducted by Rick B.

# 2 — Barnstable Only

IS IT TRUE…

…that Portland, ME has a municipal shelter that vets Neighbors in Need at a separate location and transports only those from Portland to the shelter, which is in a private, remote location?

# 3 — Housing First

IS IT TRUE…

…that when Operation In From The Streets (OIFTS) started, it placed 25 of the most challenging Neighbors In Need into individual motel rooms, provided services to each, and by the end of 3 months, 18 had been placed in housing or a program?

# 4 — Individual over the Institution

IS IT TRUE…

…that there might be a way to help Neighbors in Need that could do away with the institutional response?

Yes, if every town engaged their churches to respond in a customized way to Neighbors in Need, there would be no need for an institution.

# 5 — Elder House

IS IT TRUE…

…that there are properties in Barnstable that could be used for an Elder House, overseen by Elder Services, who are funded to care for Elders at Risk? The elder could contribute to the cost of the building as their situation is assessed and resolved.

# 6 — Police Oversight

IS IT TRUE…

…that if the response to helping those without homes were only from Barnstable, the police could be involved in the background checks and oversight?

# 7 — Recovery Beds

IS IT TRUE…

…that High Point is moving 65 recovery beds into Hyannis at Independence Park? That as a non-profit, High Point will be paying no taxes to the town? Might High Point set aside priority beds for those in Barnstable who are without homes and struggling with addiction?

# 8 — Workers’ House

IS IT TRUE…

…that 50% of the Neighbors In Need at the shelter are working, yet are paying nothing for room and board, are not required to save, and can stay without a limit? That a successful housing program looked into buying the 460 West Main Street property, but HAC — whose mission is housing — did not support it?

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that the Neighbor In Need who struggles with alcoholism is allowed to come to the shelter under the influence, sober up on the foyer, come in for a meal and a bed, and go out the next day to repeat this behavior, possibly using funds to buy more alcohol?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that there is no true intervention for those struggling with alcohol, and that the current program may actually worsen their addiction?

# 3

IS IT TRUE…

…that Neighbors In Need are told, at least sometimes, to hide their drugs and paraphernalia outside before coming in, which could make these items accessible to children or youth in the area?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

IS IT TRUE…

…that there are many non-profits in Hyannis that could be expected to work with the town to better serve, in a coordinated way, the Neighbors In Need in the Hyannis community?

IS IT TRUE…

…that a Town Councilor who is a former President of the Town Council met for months with HAC about the renovations and the relocation, yet did not inform the other Councilors nor the residents, and wrote a letter of support for funding the renovation without consent of the other Town Councilors? (HAC CEO said this in the WXTK interview with Pat Desmarais.)

IS IT TRUE…

…that the Greater Hyannis Civic Association wrote an open letter to the Town Council requesting a meeting with HAC and Catholic Charities, and nothing came of this?

IS IT TRUE…

…that in the past there was a committee set up by the Town Council to look into the issue of homelessness in Hyannis, and yet this was resolved without action?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that Catholic Charities conducts a triage but this does not include finding a solution in the home community of the Neighbor In Need, instead sending them to the nearest shelter?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that Catholic Charities is not, and yet could be, working with local churches to find town-based, home community solutions for the Neighbors In Need, instead of sending them to shelters?

This Triage approach was brought to the CEO of Catholic Charities at her first meeting with NANN. Though she expressed interest in what she called “diversion,” nothing came of this conversation.

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

# 1

IS IT TRUE…

…that it is being claimed that 50% of those in the shelter are working, and yet they are paying nothing for their rent or meals?

# 2

IS IT TRUE…

…that there is a program in the community that provides housing for workers, and yet workers continue to stay in the shelter paying nothing?

NANN — Neighbors Advocating for Neighbors In Need  |  info@nanncapecod.com

We are not directly affiliated with any other community group or social media account. All official NANN information is on this site only.

IS IT TRUE…

…that youth (18 years and older), who may only want to be out from under the demands of parents, are allowed to come with no requirements, pay nothing, eat and sleep, and perhaps play through the day in the Hyannis streets?