After midnight… [hn photos]

HYANNIS, Massachusetts – [hn photo notes] – As the story goes, an officer with All Cape Security Patrol came across a Hyannis family huddled against a downtown building last evening. It was their first night on the street and it was overwhelming for them. All three family members were reportedly adult age and new to the streets due to no longer being able to afford the apartment where they had been living. The mother reportedly told the officer she has always worked but there are simply no affordable housing options available right now. The officer listened and wanted to help. All Cape Security Patrol Officers have a lot of experience working with Cape homeless populations at shelters and healthcare centers… but most of the winter’s cold weather emergency housing programs are no longer available as the evenings are now gradually beginning to warm up. Due to a lack of local affordable housing options, along with the recent sudden influx of migrants across the entire state, budgets are already overtaxed, and appropriate shelter options are becoming more and more limited. The officer shared his best insights and current knowledge regarding possible options for this particular family… but sadly, things are currently looking more and more bleak for everyone stuck trying to survive on the streets of Cape Cod these days. And while there are many other families currently fortunate enough to be in housing, the reality is an increasing number find themselves just one slim paycheck away from also landing on the streets with nowhere else to go… as rents across the region continue to rise.

The following are additional HN “after midnight” photos from early this morning. Many of the homeless return to camping in the wooded areas on the outskirts this time of year, but for many others, downtown shop doorways are a relatively “safer” option…