RESIDENT SERVICES

RESIDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The Resident Services Department works within the PHA to SERVE THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS– we do this by helping residents find employment, monitoring housekeeping, assisting with parenting issues, providing training and employment resources, and connecting families to services in the community that can help.

We also work in the community with local schools, agencies, and non profit groups to connect residents to the programs and services they need.

We write grants and receive donations for PHA programs. We educate and engage the public through presentations and press releases.

FAMILY SELF SUFFIENCY (FSS) The FSS program is available to PH and HCV

residents. Residents sign an agreement that they will work towards goals that insure them a successful future. In return, part of their rent is put into an escrow account as they increase their earnings.

There are currently 49 individuals in the PH program and 42 in the HCV. 11 residents have graduated from the program, 3 have earned HS diplomas, 4 have earned college degrees, 1 has purchased a home and many have improved their credit, among much more!

FSS SUCCESS STORIES/PHOTOS

Elsa Tavares, a resident from Galego Court, graduated from the program and used her escrow funds to put a down payment on a house.

Margaret Amoah, a resident from 560 Prospect St., attained her citizenship while in the program.

Edna Chahine a participant from the HCV program, obtained her Associates in Nursing while in the program. She then graduated from the program and plans to use the money to purchase a home.

RESIDENT SERVICES COORDINATORROB WILLIAMSRob Williams works with residents on the following:• Rhode Island

Furniture Bank• Housekeeping

compliance issues• Community Service

assignments• Community gardens• Food bags and

holiday food basket donations

• Special events at family sites

Community partners RI Furniture Bank St Raphael Academy St Matt Trinity food pantry South Side Community

Land Trust Boys & Girls Club Pawtucket Soup Kitchen Pawsox/ donations and

bike safety Pawtucket School

Department

VISTA VOLUNTEER 560CECELIA JACKSONCOORDINATOR/CASE MANAGER OF THE TIPS (TRUANCY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION) PROGRAM AT PHA:

WORK ON SITE AT 560:

Works with schools to ensure children are in school on time and not truant

Meet with teachers and principals Meet with local Police & Fire Dept.

to recruit mentors Schedule meeting with parents to

talk about their children’s academics in school and monitor their grades an behavior

Attend workshops and education trainings on special education and Justice talk on how to end poverty

Refer students to Lauren as needed

Provides events and activities to keep families engaged

After school homework help Big Brothers & Sisters Mentors Works with Boys & Girls Club Works with Tenant Association

on events Manage Donations- more are

appreciated and needed of any kind.

Supervise volunteers from Bay view/Roosevelt International Academy, St. Ray, mentors and interns.

Advocate for parents in IEP meetings

VISTA VOLUNTEER GALEGOROBIN STANTON COORDINATOR TIPS PROGRAM AT GALEGO

COMMUNITY CLOTHING CLOSET

Meets with staff at Cunningham and Slater

Meets with parents Works with afterschool

COZ program to enroll children

Registers children for camps, scholarships, and programs in the community

Assists with outreach

Open to ALL RESIDENTS Tuesday and Wednesday

Open to the Public through agency referrals

DONATIONS needed: Coats Children's Clothing Shoes Baby supplies

SENIOR LIASON SISTER JULIE

Sister Julie Tremblay works with the four senior and disabled sites to provide resources and activities to improve residents quality of life. She assists the PHA by communicating programs and policy's to seniors including.

• MOTIVATE RESIDENTS PARTICIPATION• HEALTH RELATED PROGRAMS - Flu Sot Clinics - URI Pharmacy Presentations - Health fairs - Foot Health - Smoking Cessation• LIVING WELL WORKSHOPS• SOCIAL EVENTS AT PHA AND IN COMMUNITY• FLYERS• RECYCLING• FOOD PROGRAMS

The Providence CenterLauren D’Andrea, Housing Liaison

Assess tenant’s mental health and clinical needs Refers and connects tenants to appropriate resources such as:

therapy, substance use support, case management and wrap around services, medical attention, domestic violence support, etc.

Prioritizes tenants in order for most acute to be seen as soon as possible and as frequently as needed

Outreach tenants who have been identified as needing clinical support; working with providers, other community partners, as well as TPC and PHA staff to better support over all needs.

Follow up with connected partners after referrals are made to assist with care navigation and medical/mental health support adherence: identifying barriers to care and working with tenant to find ways to cope with barriers- Continuum of care model

Initiate transitional care for long term stabilization of tenants

PHA Homeless Program

Pilot Homeless Program

PHA along with the Center for Supportive Housing and Access, Rhode Island participated in a pilot program to help the chronically homeless. The Authority established a separate waiting list and allocated ten units for the program.One unit in every four unit turnovers were used until the ten units have been occupied. Once a unit is utilized for this pilot program it will continue to be used to house the chronic homeless.

SUCCESS OF PROGRAMWithin 18 months the 10 units were occupied

with 4 families and 6 individuals.The program would not have been possible

with out the diligent work and effort of the staff at both ACCESS, RI and the PHA.

The case managers at ACCESS, RI are fully engaged with their clients and continue to

provide supportive services.

ADVOCACY FOR THE HOMELESS

PHA hosts homeless working group meetings with community

partners once a month.Resident Services’ staff attend regular meetings with the RI Coalition for the Homeless,

Chronic Homeless and Veteran Homeless working groups. Chronic Homeless Veteran

preference was established in Jan. 2016 to help with the “Zero: 2016 Campaign”.

20 formerly homeless families are now housed within the PHA due to the above collaborations.

Recognition: Sr. Carol McGovern Award

Stephen Vadnais was unanimously selected as the 2016 recipient of the Sr. Carol McGovern, RSM memorial award.

Steve was recognized for his dedication in advocating to fight for the homeless and his exemplary service in working to empower homeless constituents.

This is the first time a leader of a large public housing authority has been recognized!Congratulations Stephen!