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The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded $160,000 in grants to help Rhode Islanders stay housed this winter. The funding will go to eight nonprofits across the state that regularly work with people who are homeless or in danger of losing their homes due to relatively small expenses.

“Those organizations will use our grants to provide people with direct assistance for minor, unexpected, temporary or one-time costs like car repairs, utility bills, clothing for a job or crucial medication without which they might lose their housing. Not losing a job because your car needs work could be the difference between staying housed or losing your place to live,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

Amos House, the Community Care Alliance, House of Hope, Lucy’s Hearth, Sojourner House, Thrive Behavioral Healthcare, the Tri-County Community Action Program and the WARM Center were selected to receive the funding because of their statewide coverage and their experience providing services to Rhode Islanders who are housing insecure.

“We know that preventing homelessness is far less traumatic and less expensive than rehousing individuals and families. With the current challenges and costs surrounding accessing safe and affordable housing, stabilizing households has never been more important. We look forward to using these funds to reduce homelessness in Rhode Island,” said Eileen Hayes, president and CEO of Amos House in Providence.

At the same time, the Foundation is launching its new Path Home Fund, which gives the public a way to donate to this effort. The Foundation is accepting gifts to the fund via its website at www.rifoundation.org/pathhome. The public can also mail a check or money order donation payable to “Path Home Fund” to the Rhode Island Foundation, One Union Station, Providence, RI 02903.

“With winter nearing, we are giving Rhode Islanders a simple, secure way to join us in contributing to organizations that have proven track records of helping people find and maintain a roof over their heads,” said Cicilline.

The Foundation’s announcements come as the state Department of Housing moves forward with its plan to expand support for Housing Problem Solving services by investing $750,000 in flexible financial assistance plus $1 million to support programs that provide vital housing-related counseling services.

According to the state Department of Housing, the $1.75 million will aim to serve approximately 350 households with timely interventions to prevent increased entry or lengthy stays in costly shelter programs. Housing Problem Solving focuses on creative solutions for Rhode Islanders as they work to resolve their housing crisis. State-funded financial assistance can be used to help with things like security deposits, first-month's rent, utility deposits and groceries.

“We thank the Rhode Island Foundation for stepping up in response to the request for investments in upstream efforts focused on preventing instances of homelessness before they even start,” said Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor. “We are also grateful to Governor McKee and the legislature for continuing to provide resources that the Department of Housing can invest in efforts like housing problem solving.”

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential.