Impact (highlights)
- With Foundation support, several community development corporations (CDCs) and related entities are expected to produce more than 100 units of housing, both rental and homeownership. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national organization, received a $200,000 general operating grant that enabled it to finance more than 300 units of affordable housing in Rhode Island and provide additional support to CDCs that assisted in the completion of more than 250 affordable housing units in every county in the state.
 |
| Homeless advocates bring attention to the winter shelter crisis at a press conference organized by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and the RI Homeless Advocacy Project. |
 |
| Pedro Maldonado, a Year Up Providence student, asks U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse a question about education reform. (Photo: Bobby Gondola) |
- Grants related to job training and job readiness expect to provide training opportunities for approximately 200 individuals.
- The Foundation made a number of grants to organizations that provide training and career laddering strategies that utilize a dual-customer approach to match employer demand with those seeking employment.
- Third-year funding of $60,000 was provided to the Stepping Up Program that works closely with hospitals, enabling it to expand its Providence-based model to northern and southern Rhode Island. The Saint Antoine TEAMhealth2 certified nursing assistant training and career laddering program in northern Rhode Island received second-year funding of $60,000. East Bay Community Action Program received second-year funding of $50,000 for the Newport Skills Alliance, a county-wide effort to deliver regionally-based training through a coalition of education, training, and social service providers in collaboration with employers in key industry sectors. The Foundation also provided third-year funding of $50,000 for the Amos House carpentry training program. All programs have the potential to be replicated and are providing training to those with substantial barriers to accessing job training programs delivered elsewhere in the state.
- HousingWorks RI is a coalition of nearly 140 organizations and businesses dedicated to increasing the availability of affordable homes across Rhode Island. With $100,000 from the Foundation, HousingWorks RI continues its research, advocacy, and public education efforts.
- The Foundation provided continued support for organizations engaged in statewide efforts, such as Grow Smart Rhode Island ($75,000), as well as regional initiatives including the Aquidneck Island Regional Planning Council ($29,700). A $25,000 grant was made to support the Innovation Providence Implementation Council (IPIC) to help
“The support the Rhode Island Coalition receives
from The Rhode Island Foundation is critical to our
work on constituent engagement. Through our
Speakers Bureau, Speak Outs, and Constituent
Advisory Board, we strive to help politicians,
decision-makers, and the general public more fully
understand homelessness, and its solutions, in
Rhode Island. Without the support of The Rhode
Island Foundation, achieving our vision of a state
where no man, woman, or child is homeless
would be impossible.”
Jim Ryczek, Executive Director
Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless | support the IPIC grant program designed to stimulate knowledge economy projects and job development.
- The Foundation provided continued support for organizations that serve and advocate for the homeless such as the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless ($55,000) and Housing Action Coalition ($30,000), and the Corporation for Supportive Housing ($40,000) to assist its efforts to improve the delivery of services and permanent housing for the homeless. A grant of $100,000 for general operating support was provided to Crossroads Rhode Island to help address the increased demand on its shelter and related services.
- The geographic distribution of our grants reflected our intent to support “place-based” efforts related to the location of housing and access to job training.
|