Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Alison Cantrell
Talk show host Montel Williams was among the people who described the benefits of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a program that helps low-income patients apply for free or reduced-price prescription drugs, at a public gathering at Crossroads Rhode Island last month.
Another speaker, Ken Johnson, described the mission of PPA, which operates a bus that travels from state to state to enroll people in the program. Continue reading ‘Help With Cost of Prescriptions Is as Close as a Phone or Computer’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By David Eisenberger
On November 8 at St John’s Church, approximately 300 people attended “Hope for the Homeless,” an event sponsored by Praise Tabernacle Church and overseen by Pastors Levi and Allen Pangburn. The master of ceremonies, Artie Russo, stressed that “it’s time to speak up, instead of being buried in despair, and that it’s time to celebrate, instead of being down.”
Those that attended the event recieved free bags of groceries, coffee, pastries, clothing, free makeovers, and information from the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Phoenix House, and the R.I. Public Defenders. Lunch was served, with more than ample amounts of food provided. There was live entertainment, provided by the Live it Up band, focusing on the themes of Love, Peace, Faith, and Hope.
Performers at the event emphasized that even when escape seems impossible, “fight the demons, they will be conquered.” With a foundation of love, faith, and hope, Hope for the Homeless was a success!
By Josh Hicks
The new sun glared
Heat of a new day
Burning at the stains
Hiding behind tired eyes
Searing
My eyes lose focus
Birds escort in today
As if yesterday were but a dream
In my insomnia I realize
I am a relic of the past
Those birds have dreamt
A time before
Naive smug birds, starting fresh
Only to forget today
When a fresher sun
Melts tomorrow’s morn
& a new day
As they forget the dream
Of yesterday
As this awful sun dawns
I remain trapped in a fading dream
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Brian Young
DARE — which stands for Direct Action Rights and Equality — is a membership-based organization whose mission is to organize low-income failies in communities of color for social, political, and economic justice. DARE was founded in 1986 by residents on Providence’s South Side who joined together to fight for basic improvements in their community — and it has been fighting for justice ever since.
Current campaigns challenge the prison system; work against gentrification and for affordable housing; and bring students and parents together to fight for quality education. All are welcome to join.
The DARE office is at 340 Lockwood Street in Providence (behind the Burger King off Broad Street). Phone: 401-351-6960. Website: www.daretowin.org.
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
Tips from the street on how to get housing:
1. Find a good case manager and insist that get help finding housing.
2. Keep applying for housing everywhere you can, even if the lists seem long.
3. Don’t take no for an answer. If an agency says you can’t apply for their housing, try another one.
4. Pay attention to word of mouth. Find out from others what housing is available.
5. Keep knocking on the doors; keep calling. Don’t sit back and wait for someone to call you. Calling is half the battle.
6. The trick is sometimes you have to be at the right place at the right time. Keep trying and don’t give up. Continue reading ‘Tips in Using Resources To Find Housing’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Louisa Smith
“We don’t want to be treated like animals.” That is the mantra of the homeowners and tenants with whom Tom Judd has been talking recently.
A community organizer with the Housing Action Coalition of Rhode Island, Judd has been knocking on doors, learning about people’s experiences with foreclosure and inviting them to meetings of the new Rhode Island Bank Tenants and Homeowners Association. A meeting of the Association on November 22 found a half-dozen individuals and families facing foreclosure gathered together, with pepperoni pizza and Coke laid out on the table, to talk about how to address this problem. Continue reading ‘Homeowner Group Fights Foreclosure’
By Eugene Gomes and Jenny DiTomasso
Jericho Place, a ministry of the Artic Mission is located at 1227 Main St. in West Warwick, spanning the entire lower level. It is the veritable HEART of the creative program for humanitarian cultivation.
It has two major motivating attributes. The first is a points and rewards system, used to initiate and stimulate positive progressive steps for helpful and productive character development, while meeting the current physical needs of clients. The second part is a business oriented long term, 10-year goal referred to as a “BHAG” (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal), introduced from Charles Nault’s philosophy as executive director of the Artic Mission. Continue reading ‘Jericho Motivates and Guides Personal Growth’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Laura Jaworski
The people of Rhode Island are facing of one of the most difficult economic times in history. For those living in the greater Westerly community, the number of those seeking assistance with basic needs have substantially increased. Too many in our community are faced with making unacceptable choices between food, rent, heat, and medical costs.
Many of the area’s largest employers, such as Foxwoods, Bradford Dyeing Association, and BlueSky Brands (formerly Paragon) have announced layoffs, workforce reductions, and plant closings. Our Community Soup Kitchen, which accommodates only 20 people at a time, has tripled in the number of meals served every day. We are also hard at work in developing a plan to address the anticipated increased need for shelter during the upcoming winter season. Continue reading ‘Spotlight: WARM Shelter of Westerly’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Stacey Marie
Everyone should know what people who are confined to wheelchairs en dure daily. It is not easy to maneuver through the streets, sidewalks, restaurants, government buildings, doctor’s offices, and housing units.
Many buildings in Providence do not provide the proper access to citizens who wish to live independently.
Many people take for granted going to work, living at home and the other little things like opening doors, or just being able to use the bathroom in their homes. Continue reading ‘Al’s Wheelchair Is Both an Asset and an Obstacle’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By David Eisenberger
Despite wet and raw weather, turnout was high on November 25 at an outreach event for homeless people held at the Beneficent Church in Providence. Attendees were given a card at triage stations that documented each of their needs.
The ushers led them through stations representing many providers, including Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Food Stam outreach, 2-1-1 benefits screener, Crossroads of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, and R.I. Legal Serices. Continue reading ‘Project Homeless Connect Brings Services to the People’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By Joseph Perry
The Rhode Island homeless population has a large number of people who are homeless because of mental health or substance abuse problems, but providing services for those people while they are in shelters or living under bridges is a losing proposition.
So, a few years ago, the Riverwood Mental Health Services adopted a program called Housing First, which provides subsidized housing for clients, along with drug treatment and mental health services. Continue reading ‘New Grant Puts Housing First’
Published in
December, 2008 in
Profiles.
By Brynn McNally
Name: Mary Alison Cantrell
Age: 48
Homeless since: March 2006
Background: A native of Westerly, Rhode Island, Alison is a long-time victim of abusive relationships. After a difficult breakup with her boyfriend and the death of her father in 2006, Alison was forced to turn to the streets. Alison is a former bus driver and Certified Nurse’s Aid, but she has had trouble finding work in the past few years. Continue reading ‘Homelessness Has Many Faces’
Published in
December, 2008 in
News.
By David Eisenberger and Jenny DiTomasso
Life in a wheelchair can be especially difficult, particularly for people who are homeless. Service providers who deal with homeless people have grappled with the needs of people in wheelchairs and the physical barriers that may exist in their facilities.
Crossroads Rhode Island purchased its building from Travelers Aid and did not expect to be operating a multi-faceted facility, said Chief Operating Officer Michelle Wilcox. Wilcox also noted, “We’re not a shelter, in the broad sense.” Around the time the building was purchased, the Station nightclub fire of 2003 sparked a rash of new state fire codes and requirements. Continue reading ‘Life in a Wheelchair Presents Extra Challenges’
By Brynn McNally
When he first arrived, Todd Pont thought himself an unlikely candidate to handle the front desk at Warm Shelter in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he has lived and volunteered for the past 19 months. Todd is covered in tattoos, has limited use of his left arm because of a violent confrontation landing him in the ACI for three years, and has a self-described discomfort with social interaction. Yet remembering his first visit to the shelter a few months prior, the staff believed in his potential and gave him the chance to help out at the desk. Now Todd handles the phones and helps out in the main office. For the past year and a half he has been volunteering at Warm Shelter every day, and believes himself a stronger man because of it. Continue reading ‘Shelter Staff Sees Faith in Its Client Bear Fruit’
