1 Congratulations on the new Lucy’s Hearth home. Can you tell our readers a little bit about it?
Lucy’s Hearth is an emergency shelter for women and children that has been operating for 32 years from a leased convent. Last year, we purchased a 2.2-acre property located close by in Middletown and began renovations. [Last month] we moved into our fully renovated, 16-unit facility. … The facility features upgraded administrative offices, donation center and common spaces.
2 How will this new home help you provide better services to the homeless?
Program staff will be able to stabilize the families quicker, as families will have [fewer] challenges related to congregate living. Additionally, family members who struggle [with] mental health issues or have trauma histories will benefit from the enhanced security, lighting and most importantly, privacy for each family.
3 Where is the organization in its fundraising efforts?
Lucy’s Hearth has completed 60 percent of our $2.5 million campaign and have $700,000 left to go. The biggest challenge for Lucy’s Hearth is for 32 years, we operated an amazing program for the families but … did not do a good job with communications and development. We have a lot of community support, but very few large donors.
4 What’s changed in how people are thinking about providing services to the homeless?
The biggest change is that emergency shelter, as we know it, is going away. … Emergency shelter produces lower success rates and is more expensive than other services, such as rapidly re-housing residents into apartments. We also are becoming more aware of the specific outcomes for children who experience trauma and or homelessness. … The programs and services that we provide to the children and families we serve are designed to reduce the effects of these experiences.
5 How can people who are interested help out?
There are so many ways to help: If you want to volunteer – send us an email at volunteer@lucyshearth.org. If you are interested in supporting our capital campaign – make a donation on our website www.lucyshearth.org or by mail Lucy’s Hearth, 19 Valley Road, Middletown, R.I. 02842. Participate in our virtual housewarming … at Walmart.com under the name Lucy’s Hearth. •
