Ruchinskas to retire in October

Paul Ruchinskas, the Cape Cod Commission’s affordable housing specialist for the past 13 years, is retiring.

“The Commission has been fortunate to have Paul’s service and dedication for the past 13 years,” Executive Director Paul Niedzwiecki said.  “We’ll miss his advocacy and steady support for affordable housing on Cape Cod.”

One of his primary responsibilities has been to manage the federal affordable housing HOME funds the County receives annually. Since 1994, the County has received over $13 million in HOME funding. These have helped create more than 1,200 affordable units (over 20% of the region’s total) in 70 projects. In addition, HOME funds provided over 600 down payment loans to assist low-income, first time homebuyers purchase homes.

An affordable housing specialist is among the positions required by the Cape Cod Commission Act. A member of the Commission staff will be assigned that designation on an interim basis.

Prior to his time at the Commission, he spent 12 years as the executive director of three non-profit, community-based affordable housing and community development organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Ruchinskas serves on boards of the Regional Network to Address Homelessness, as treasurer of the Brewster Housing Authority’s Frederick Court Development Corp. and chairs Brewster’s Community Preservation Committee.