Town seeks $875,000 state grant for social services and housing rehabilitation

Various groups, organizations and residents in Wareham could benefit from $875,000 in state grants.

The Wareham Select Board approved an application for town officials to pursue a $875,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant Program at the Tuesday, Feb. 17 meeting. 

The Community Development Block Grant program is put forth by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides annual grants to state and local governments to support housing, infrastructure, public services and economic development. 

The town generally spends the money on public social services, construction projects and addressing the needs of low and moderate-income families. The grant has paid for projects like the Bayview Park in Onset and has put money toward housing rehabilitation. 

Social service grants are needs based, and various nonprofits and organizations are on the FY2026 proposed activities list. The Buzzards Bay Coalition would receive $20,000, Damien's Food Pantry would receive $48,500 and Turning Point of Wareham would receive $48,500. 

Due to a surplus in leftover funds from previous years, GATRA will not be on the list to receive funds. According to Programs Manager for the towns Community Development Program, Wayne Darragh, GATRA has over $80,000 from "older grants." 

Plans include spending $609,000 on housing rehabilitation. Darragh said this program provides grants and loans which would fund necessary home improvement projects for low and moderate-income homeowners.

However, the housing rehabilitation program has a waiting list. 

Administration costs to run both the social service and housing rehabilitation is projected to be $149,000 including hiring bookkeepers and assistants.

Select Board member Sarah Corbitt praised the importance of the grant application, calling the money for the town "amazing." Representatives from organizations involved like Turning Point spoke of how important the money has been for operations.

President of Turning Point, Chuck McCullough, said the stream of funds is appreciated, highlighting areas the money goes toward. The grant money of the past has gone to covering utilities and rent of those in Wareham struggling to pay it themselves. 

"We look forward to this every year," McCullough said. 

Currently the list for targeted projects is long for the town with items like repurposing and rehabilitation abandoned buildings and encouraging more affordable housing. 

According to Darragh, the money from FY2025, $850,000, is ready to be dispersed next week.