Monthly Archive for February, 2009

Providence Community Health Center

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By Brian Young

A branch of the Providence Community Health Center (PCHC) is located in the Crossroads Building. The center provides health and dental care to more than 900 patients. Its focus is to bring quality health and dental care to homeless people, whether or not they are insured.

The center also has a prescription assistance program. Last year, the center gave out more than $3 million worth of prescription medications. The center also offers help with mental health problems. Continue reading ‘Providence Community Health Center’

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Memorial Honors Friends

Published in February, 2009 in News.

More than 300 homeless people, service providers, and clergy members gathered on January 29 at Beneficent Church at the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless’s 13th Annual Homeless Memorial Service. The service memorialized the 31 people who died in the last year. Rabbi Alan Flam, president of the board of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless asked, “How can we properly commemorate these members of our human family who have passed on? What tribute shall we give them? Continue reading ‘Memorial Honors Friends’

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AIDS Care Group Grows Fast, As Need Grows

Published in February, 2009 in Humanitarian Award.

By David Eisenberger and Jenny DiTomasso

The recipient of the Humanitarian Award for February is AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS). The organization opened about 20 years ago with four units of safe, supervised housing, and has expanded to 90 units, according to Stephen Hartley, development director of ACOS.

There are many functions in this diverse organization, which is located at 18 Parkis Avenue in Providence. Continue reading ‘AIDS Care Group Grows Fast, As Need Grows’

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Sarge: Problems Started with PTSD Followed by Tumble into Depression

Published in February, 2009 in Profiles.

Duration homeless: Six years homeless.

Background: I’m trying to get my life back together. I had a bout with post traumatic stress disorder and depression, and I was self-medicating with alcohol, which finally got me into a hospital. I’ve been in a shelter for about a year. I find shelter life appalling. A lot of help out there is accessible, but some providers treat information as if it’s classified, or on a “need to know” basis. You have to be very specific with what you ask and whom you ask it to [in order to get information]. Continue reading ‘Sarge: Problems Started with PTSD Followed by Tumble into Depression’

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Lesson #1 for Success: Hit Problems Head-On

Published in February, 2009 in Success Story.

By Stan Kapelewski

After a long, difficult journey through a life filled with trials and tribulations, Richard Sprague took on the challenge of regaining control of his life at the age of 49.

Sprague is a lifelong resident of Rhode Island who grew up in a large family of nine siblings.  Tragedy struck, and Sprague’s father died before he even had a chance to know him. Sprague’s mother was left a single parent of nine children. Continue reading ‘Lesson #1 for Success: Hit Problems Head-On’

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King Tribute Speakers Express Hope for Wise, Timely Leaders

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By Eugene Gomes

An annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., conducted January 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Cranston, was a touching affair filled with powerful and illuminating speeches giving tribute to the King’s legacy and dream.

The speakers included religious and community leaders as well as political representatives. The celebration address was presented by Dr. John Maeda, a Japanese-American and the new president of the Rhode Island School of Design. Continue reading ‘King Tribute Speakers Express Hope for Wise, Timely Leaders’

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Enclave of Hope, Shelter, Publicity

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By Amy Peters

“Two nights ago, I slept on the steps of The Arcade. Tonight I’m sleeping here.” For Ernie Alther, 62 and a Vietnam veteran, “here” was Hope City, a swath of ground under a bridge by the Providence River where several homeless people and their advocates have built a temporary tent city.

The group, with a few donated tents, has assembled under the Crawford Street Bridge nightly since January 24. The site was chosen in memory of Paul Langlais, a homeless man whose body was found there on January 2. Continue reading ‘Enclave of Hope, Shelter, Publicity’

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Shelters: Clarify Weather Policies

Published in February, 2009 in Editorials.

To everyone in this small state who is working to end homelessness: We can do better than this.

Let’s step out of our back-seat sibling rivalry mentality of blame and ignorance and listen to the needs of our community.

There is wind and snow and freezing rain. People are dying. Tent city, or no tent city, people are sleeping outside. Continue reading ‘Shelters: Clarify Weather Policies’

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Prayer Vigil Addresses Lawmakers

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By David Eisenberger

On the first day of Rhode Island’s 2009 legislative session, more than 200 clergy and community members gathered for a prayer vigil at the State House Rotunda. Sponsored by the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition. The vigil called on the state’s elected officials to remember the poor and homeless as formulate their legislative agenda in today’s ever changing and complex world. Continue reading ‘Prayer Vigil Addresses Lawmakers’

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Rally Demands End to Evictions

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By Pamala Therrien

At a rally at the State House in January, community activists and organizers put on a satirical skit that portrayed the callousness of forced eviction on families. Along with state representatives and a Providence city councilman, organizers of the rally called for legislation an emergency moratorium on foreclosures and a requirement of just cause for evictions. Continue reading ‘Rally Demands End to Evictions’

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Budget Changes May Bring Cuts in Aid, New Taxes

Published in February, 2009 in News.

By Kristen Sherman and Heather Snyder

Faced with a potential $357 million budget deficit, Governor Carcieri has introduced a supplemental budget that combines tax and fee increases with spending cuts.

Although the supplemental budget does not directly target housing, it contains measures that may affect the lives of low-income residents. For example, the elimination of more than $50 million in revenue for cities and towns may affect important services. Continue reading ‘Budget Changes May Bring Cuts in Aid, New Taxes’

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Clinic Worker Hits the Street to Find People in Need of Help

Published in February, 2009 in Rainbow Award.

By Stan Kapelewski

Congratulations to Lisa Ciccone, outreach coordinator at the Riverwood Mental Health Clinic and this month’s recipient of the Street Sights Rainbow Award.

The clinic, within St. Joseph’s Hospital, has been functioning for four years. In the one and a half years since Ciccone joined the staff she has earned the trust and respect of all the people she deals with. Continue reading ‘Clinic Worker Hits the Street to Find People in Need of Help’

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