Monthly Archive for January, 2009

By Willa Truelove and David Eisenberger

An agency fair of providers that help elderly, disabled, and homeless people was held December 13 at the Elmwood Community Center. The providers were all located in the same place to offer assistance to clients needing assistance in health care, housing, and social security. Some of the agencies that help this population are:

♦ State of Rhode Island Executive Offices of Health and Human Services provides information, community support services, food and shelter services, services for finding benefit programs, and assistive technology services.
Phone: 401-462-5274
Website:www.eohhs.ri.gov or www.AskRhody.org Continue reading ‘Fair Rounds Up Services for Elderly, Disabled’

En este mes iluminamos a Pedro Rodriguez, miembro de la Asociacion de Inquilinos y Duenos de bancos, para nuestra historia de éxito. La entrevista fue conducida por Rosalina Collazo.

P: ¿Como usted se involucró con la asociación de inquilinos?

R: Yo me involucre por que Tom, de Housing Action (Acción de Vivienda) y Rosalina de Rhode Island Coalition for The Homeless (La Coalición de Personas sin Viviendas) tocaron a mi puerta para informarme de que mi casa estaba (foreclosure) clausurada y me invitaron a una reunión de inquilinos. Yo sabia ya por que había recibido un volante de aviso para la reunión. En esa noche formamos la Asociación de Inquilinos y Dueños de Bancos. Continue reading ‘Inquilino contribuye con su trabajo a grupo que lucha por las casas clausuradas’

By David Eisenberger

On three bitterly cold weekends in January and February, Mathewson Street Church opened its doors as an impromptu daytime shelter.

On Martin Luther King weekend and the next two weekends, as the weather turned dangerously cold and snowy, homeless people in Providence were left with few places to go during the day to stay warm. Aida Fernandez, pastor of Mathewson Street Church, members of the Homeless People’s Action Committee, and additional volunteers took it upon themselves to open up the church as a day shelter. Continue reading ‘Impromptu Shelter is Refuge from the Cold’

A documentary film that describes a deep flaw in Rhode Island’s justice system is being screened throughout the state in an effort to exert pressure on lawmakers to take action this year on a bill to reform the law.

The documentary, titled “Stronger Than Their Walls – Guilty Though Proven Innocent,” deals with Rhode Island state laws that allow people on probation to be imprisoned for crimes for which they have been found innocent or for which the charges have been dropped. This documentary follows the story of four men who were presumed guilty and never given a fair chance to demonstrate their innocence. Continue reading ‘“Stronger Than Their Walls: Guilty Though Proven Innocent”’

By Sam Kang

Despite lots of rain and wind, almost 75 people showed up at the Smith Street offices of Sojourner House in December to learn about a new effort to stop domestic violence among teens. Speakers described teen violence and how this new website may help stop it.

The organization has created a website that includes a virtual reality game designed to teach teens how to keep their mind focused on the important things in life, said Karen Allen, executive director of Sojourner House,. Teenagers can go online to chat with other members in the community about how to keep their relationships healthy. Sojourner House is also trying to get more than 2,000 teens ages 12 to 14 who are still attending middle school to learn how to prevent domestic violence and deal with this problem. Teen violence often happens inside schools, on the streets, and even at home. Continue reading ‘Sojourner Offers Website for Teens’

By Pamala Therrien

“Bail out for people, not for banks” was one of the many cries heard at the Providence Says No to Eviction rally held at 804 Potter’s Avenue on December 10. Between 45 to 50 Providence residents attended the rally. Many had experienced foreclosures firsthand and they attended the rally to lend their voices to the cry for justice in the face of increased foreclosures and evictions.

The rally was organized by the RI Bank Tenant & Homeowner Association. Participating groups included Direct Action for Rights and Equality, HOPE, RI Jobs with Justice, Ocean State Action, Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Providence Students for a Democratic Society, and the RI Coalition for the Homeless. Continue reading ‘People Rally to Protest Foreclosures, Seek Aid’