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Homeless in RI: Operation Stand Down opens historic Woonsocket home for female veterans
Photo, top: Historic Register Home
OSDRI to Open and Dedicate new home for female veterans to Corporal Andrea Ryder, USMC
On November 27th at noon, Operation Stand Down RI will reopen its Woonsocket Home for Veterans in honor of Marine Corporal Andrea T. Ryder. After extensive restoration, OSDRI has repurposed the historic Woonsocket property into a transitional home for homeless female veterans.
OSDRI will be joined by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and other officials for the special dedication of the property.
The house located at 492 South Main Street Woonsocket will be dedicated in honor of Marine Corporal Andrea Ryder.
Andrea Ryder is a native Rhode Islander who enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from high school. After leaving service she was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma cancer connected to her overseas deployments. After numerous surgeries she appeared to be in remission. In 2014, Andrea learned she was pregnant, and that the cancer had returned and was now stage 4. When faced with the decision between treating the cancer or the life of her unborn child, Ms. Ryder chose her child. Ms. Ryder gave birth to baby Olivia later in 2014.
On June 29, 2020 Ms. Ryder ultimately succumbed to her cancer after spending time in hospice. Andrea’s husband Dennis Bourassa and their daughter Olivia will be on site for the dedication.
Andrea Ryder had deployed to Afghanistan and served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Marines. “Andrea Ryder is a local Rhode Island hero, who not only served her country selflessly but continued to put others before herself when she made the decision to risk her own health in order to give life to her unborn child. We are honored to name this property after her and let her legacy continue to live on through OSDRI’s work with female veterans,” said Erik Wallin, Esq., Executive Director of OSDRI.
An article with more details about Andrea Ryder was done in the Rhode Island Catholic in 2014:
The Woonsocket home dates to 1865. It is on the historic registry of homes.
It will be the home of 10 female veterans identified by the Department of Veterans Affairs as homeless. The residents will be enrolled in OSDRI’s transitionary program and have access to OSDRI’s myriad of services as they work to transition to permanent housing. Services include employment, benefits assistance, legal assistance, basic human needs, and case management.
About Operation Stand Down Rhode Island
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Johnston, OSDRI’s mission is to help veterans secure stable housing, employment, basic human needs, legal and benefit assistance. OSDRI offers an array of services for veterans including a food pantry program, pro bono legal services, rental assistance, and a robust employment program. In addition, OSDRI has 88 units of housing for veterans spanning across the state from Woonsocket to Westerly. On average 2,000 veterans a year benefit from OSDRI’s services.