Connect Cape Cod

Embracing Veterans & Military Service Members

Cape Cod is home to more than 20,000 veterans, representing approximately 10% of the region's overall population. The concentration of veterans in Massachusetts is nearly half that of Cape Cod at 5.5%. This is due to the aging population in our region where many veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam retire.

Otis Air National Guard Base, more commonly referred to by residents as Otis Air Force Base, between the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee and Falmouth still houses major units and performs military operations today.

In recent years, with younger veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there has been increasing awareness of the mental health impacts of the types of trauma associated with the nature of warfare; not only in the Middle East, but in other violent conflicts as well. This increased awareness has resulted in higher demand for Veterans Affairs funded, and other, programs to treat PTSD, substance abuse, and other ailments resulting from various types of trauma.

Because of these trends, multiple private groups and public agencies are working diligently to serve our residents who are re-entering the communities they have sacrificed dearly to serve, leading to the creation of the Cape Cod Military, Veteran and Family Collaborative.

The Cape Cod Military, Veteran, and Family Collaborative was developed to provide a listing of resources about housing, jobs, and education. This online directory of organizations and services who support military families was developed with the support from The TGC Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation.