Working for homeless assistance agencies. 11 to get $7.3 Million+ for programs.

In an effort to help coordinate housing and supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness across Rhode Island, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), today announced $7,308,810 in federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grants for Rhode Island homeless assistance programs.  This federal funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will support 34 homeless assistance projects around the state that enable local providers and community partners to deliver safe, affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

“Any individual experiencing homelessness is one too many, and it’s critical that we continue working to fight homelessness across the state and nation,” said Senator Reed.  “These funds are a crucial step in funding rapid rehousing and permanent housing for individuals and families in need, saving lives while also saving taxpayer dollars.  From homeless veterans who could be struggling with PTSD to families that are facing the loss of a home, these grants help provide vulnerable individuals and families with solutions.” 

HUD mandates an annual count of all sheltered people, and a full count of sheltered and unsheltered populations every other year during one day within the last ten days of January.  In its most recent annual count, conducted in January of 2019, HUD estimates the rate of homelessness in Rhode Island dropped 4.2% between 2018 to 2019.

The federal CoC grants are coordinated at the state level by Rhode Island Housing and jointly administered by non-profits throughout the state.  CoC funds offer a variety of housing and services including permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, street outreach, client assessment, and other services to help ensure homelessness is a brief and rare experience. 

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of housing assistance and homelessness prevention initiatives while continually leading efforts in the Senate to increase funding to address the root causes of homelessness.  Reed is the author of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which President Obama signed into law in May of 2009.  The legislation streamlined and boosted homeless assistance and prevention grant programs and required the development of a “national strategic plan” to end homelessness. 

State and local homeless projects receiving the competitive federal grants include:

Amos House / 414 Friendship Street: $40,318

Amos House / Amos House Swan Street: $49,403

Community Care Alliance / Burnside Ave Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): $58,865

Community Care Alliance / Constitution Hill Supportive Housing Program: $124,260

Community Care Alliance / Rapid Re-Housing of Northern Rhode Island: $143,706

Community Care Alliance / Rapid Re-Housing of Northern Rhode Island –Youth: $60,732

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads -70 Linwood Apartments: $190,428

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads -754 Broad Street: $43,349

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Beach Avenue Apartments: $97,072

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – DV Bonus, Individuals w/ Trauma: $270,329

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – DV Coordinated Entry System (CES): $115,000

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Family PSH: $154,320

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH for Disabled Adults: $96,468

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH for Disabled Elders: $90,953

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Rapid Rehousing for Families: $192,870

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Travelers Aid Housing: $33,083

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Tremont Street Apartments: $79,102

Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Whitmarsh House Apartments: $115,151

Foster Forward / Rapid Rehousing for Former Foster Youth: $223,798

House of Hope Community Development Corporation / ACCESS to Home Renewal Application: $315,531

House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Fair House Renewal Application: $39,464

House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Warwick PSH- Consolidated Renewal Application: $131,225

Lucy’s Hearth / Lucy’s Hearth Renewal PSH Program: $43,141

Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless / Coordinated Entry Renewal: $141,714

Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless / Homeless Management Information System Renewal: $152,064

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RI-500 CoC Planning Application: $247,550

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing – Grant 26 Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA): $196,260

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing – Grant 83 TBRA: $170,203

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing – Sponsor Based Rental Assistance (SBRA): $2,078,446

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing – TBRA: $815,535

Sojourner House / Sojourner House Rapid Re-Housing for Victims of Abuse Renewal: $557,480

Sojourner House / Sojourner House Rapid Re-Housing Renewal: $159,264

Westbay Community Action / East, Earl, & Warwick Avenue: $28,966

YWCA Rhode Island / YWCA Rhode Island Sarah Frances Grant Homestead: $52,760

Total: $7,308,810

JOBS

A cursory review of agencies who are benefitting by these grants revealed job openings across the field. Here is what we found. Google the agencies to see more specifics.

Crossroads is Hiring

There are 9 posted positions for Crossroads on the Brown University nonprofit jobs board. When asked if these positions were in response to new funding, or this particular CoC grants, this statement was provided by Karen Santilli, director of Crossroads:  “We are at the beginning of a new budget year and the answer is more complex than you might think.  Some positions are the result of natural attrition, some are new.  Some are funded by our private fundraising, some are not, and some are funded by a variety of funding sources”.

  1. Manager/Director, Corporate Relations & Events | Crossroads RI

  2. Adult Education Instructor | Crossroads RI

  3. Case Manager, Special Populations | Crossroads RI

  4. Diversion and Assessment Specialist | Crossroads RI

  5. Domestic Violence – Diversion & Assessment Specialist | Crossroads RI

  6. Front Desk Reception – Full time 7AM to 3PM | Crossroads RI ($14/hr)

  7. Front Desk Reception – Part time – weekends 3-11pm | Crossroads RI

  8. Housing Based Case Manager | Crossroads RI

  9. DVP Shelter Advocate – Part time and Full Time roles available!

The positions are listed as permanent and full time, except for #9 and no salaries are listed, except for #6.  The Crossroads website also lists 14 open positions, some of which are duplicates of the 9 listed. 

For more info on careers at Crossroads, go to:  https://www.crossroadsri.org/about/our-work-team/careers

House of Hope

The House of Hope lists positions open on their website, including:

1.  Case Manager – Housing Stabilization, full time

2.  Property Maintenance Technician, part to full time

3.  Director of Programs, full time

4.  Case Manager, Outreach, bilingual, full time

5.  Youth Outreach Worker, full time

To contact: https://thehouseofhopecdc.org/

Community Care Alliance

The Community Care Alliance has a career page with information, but lists no specific openings.

To contact: https://www.communitycareri.org/

Foster Forward

Foster Forward lists four positions:

1. Youth Support Specialist

2.  Real Connections Intern

3.  Employment Specialist

4.  Youth Support Specialist

Contact: https://www.fosterforward.net/

Lucy’s Hearth

Lucy’s Heart links to Family Service for job openings. Family Service has over 30 jobs listed, but only one in Middletown, where Lucy’s Hearth is located.  

1.  Residential Counselor

Contact: https://www.lucyshearth.org/

RI Coalition for the Homeless

Lists no open positions – https://www.rihomeless.org/

RI Housing

5 Positions are listed:

1. Construction Specialist

2. Deputy Executive Director

3.  Staff Accountant

4.  Accounting Manager

5.  Asset Manager MF Compliance

Contact:  https://www.rihousing.com/

Sojourner House

Sojourner House lists 3 positions:

1.  Housing Advocate, full time

2.  LGBTQ+ Advocate, full time

3.  Relief Advocate, part time

Contact:  http://www.sojournerri.org/

West Bay Community Action

Positions listed:

1.  WIC Receptionist/Nutritionist Assistant

2.  LIHEAP Community Outreach Coordinator

3.  Receptionist

4.  LIHEAP Intake Case Manager

Contact: https://www.westbaycap.org/

YWCA of Rhode Island

Website is in development – no positions listed – https://www.ywcari.org/