For
Jen Whitaker, a global real estate advisor on Cape
Cod, helping people find their dream homes comes naturally. All the
while, Jen is conscious of the glaring housing crisis that current
and hopeful Cape Cod residents face as home prices continue to
rise. When she learned of the Homeless Prevention
Council’s (HPC) mission to keep people in their
homes and their communities, Jen knew she had to get involved. This
year, she serves as Co-Chair of the Walk for Home, one of
HPC’s largest annual fundraisers. Read on to discover how Jen
is tackling the Cape Cod housing crisis, one step at a
time.
Tell us a bit about the Homeless Prevention Council and the Walk
For Home! What initially inspired you to get involved with this
organization? How long have you been involved?
The Homeless Prevention Council was established
in 1991 to combat and prevent homelessness on the Lower Cape. Its
goal is to focus on prevention efforts that help residents stay in
their existing housing, as access to affordable housing continues
to be a major challenge. The council provides personalized case
management solutions to promote stability for all who live in the
community. This will be the 5th annual Walk for Home and all
proceeds will go towards the prevention of homelessness.
As a Nauset Rotary member, I had several opportunities
to participate in community activities HPC was sponsoring over the
years. In 2020, I was asked to join HPC’s board. I began
participating in the Walk for Home, and was asked to be the chair
for 2023 with
Christina Caron and
Amanda De Oliveira.
Do
you have any fun memories from the walks over the years? What are
some of the challenges you’ve faced?
My favorite part of the walks in the past is watching
the younger generation get involved. Kids from the Provincetown
school system always arrive with signs and enthusiasm — they
are amazing!
Another personal highlight was assisting the
organization with the search for a new building. With more families
in need, HPC was taking on more clients, which in turn required
more staff and more office space. As a board member, it was a
natural fit for me to represent the organization in the search. I
am thrilled to announce that they have sold their building and will
be moving into their new building at the end of March.
In terms of challenges, getting people to take
time out of their busy schedules to attend a walk can be a bit of a
hurdle. Many will give money, which is ultimately our goal, but the
feeling of community gets missed if you don’t attend. Those
who do come in person are always rewarded by the sense of
camaraderie.
As
an agent focused on philanthropic giving, how do you stay engaged
throughout the year?
I stay engaged by attending board meetings and showing
up for events, along with donating a small portion of every real
estate transaction to HPC. I try to inspire those around me: my
goal is to see all agents on the Cape give or participate in some
way to the housing crisis we are experiencing.
Do
you have any recommendations for those considering taking a deeper
dive into philanthropy?
Join an organization! You don’t have to be a
board member or a president of a club, just get in there and
participate. It’s not always about the money — your
time is just as valuable.
The 2023
Walk for Home will take place on Saturday, June 10 at 10:00am in
Provincetown and Chatham. To learn more about the Homeless
Prevention Council, the Walk for Home, and how you can help, visit
www.hpccapecod.org.
Jen Whitaker can be reached at 508.237.8038 or
jen.whitaker@gibsonsir.com,
or by visiting our Orleans
office at 6 Route 6A, Orleans, MA.