Newport This Week
Major Grant to House Homeless
By Newport This Week Staff | on July 09, 2020
By James Merolla
The Housing Hotline of Newport has received $56,000 to provide emergency housing and other services to the homeless. The goal is to limit the threat of spreading the COVID-19 virus in the community.
“Right now, things are terrible,” said Jimmy Winters, Housing Hotline director. “The COVID-19 pandemic and job losses have increased the need. It’s going to be a bad summer.”
The grant money came from a $700,000 COVID-19 Response Fund created by the Rhode Island Foundation and the United Way of Rhode Island. In addition to the Housing Hotline, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Community College of Rhode Island also received grants.
“As a state, we have begun to shift focus from COVID-19 response to relief and recovery, but even with that positive shift, need in the community continues to grow,” said Neil D. Steinberg, president, and CEO of the RI Foundation. “We are so appreciative of the donors who have provided financial support since the crisis began in March and will continue to work with charitable Rhode Islanders to support the nonprofit organizations that remain on the frontlines, providing crucial community services.”
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church received $10,000 to purchase fresh meat and produce. The church expects the grant will enable it to help about 50 households.
“This will help meet the needs of the many families that are struggling with food insecurity due to the financial strain of COVID-19. No one should ever have to choose between feeding their family or keeping a roof over their heads,” said Rev. Barbara A. Reifschneider.
The Housing Hotline is working closely with Newport Mental Health to house the homeless.
“Just how vulnerable the homeless population is in Newport County became blatantly apparent during the pandemic,” said Jamie Lehane, Newport Mental Health CEO. “This grant enables us to keep the most vulnerable homeless people off the streets at night in emergency housing, and [allows them to keep] receiving food, behavioral healthcare, medical and other support.”
For 12 weeks, a coalition of coordinated community efforts has housed about 30 adults with mental health and addiction problems in area motels, raising $136,000. They have also received funds through several state grant programs. Initially, the funds were expected to only last through part of July. But Lehane told Newport This Week on July 6 that the additional grant will allow the housing of adults and families through August.
In mid-June, the coalition group announced plans to purchase and renovate an apartment building that will provide the local homeless with a permanent place. Lehane said this latest grant would not be used for that cause and that he hopes to find other money to do that in the fall.