EBCAP April 2014 E-news

Transcription

1 EBCAP April 2014 E-news "Sailing Home" - EBCH Celebrates 25 Years East Bay Coalition for the Homeless (EBCH) is proud to announce its 25th year providing housing, support and services to homeless families. "Sailing Home" will be held, Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, beginning at 6:30 pm. This fundraising event will benefit EBCH, which is a program of East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP). This year we invite you to celebrate the success of more than 500 families that have participated in our housing program over the years. For the past twenty-five years, the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless has been transforming lives of homeless families. EBCH was founded in 1989 when community leaders and church groups joined forces to devise a strategy to meet the needs of the homeless in the East Bay. What began with one apartment has become a powerful current of change in the lives of families in need. By stabilizing homeless families in safe, affordable housing together with critical support and service, more than 85% of families become financially stable within 6 months and are able to move on and remain financially stable and secure within 18 months. In the last year, EBCH provided housing and support services to 27 families. Read more Family Resource Fair - This Saturday, May 3! The third annual Family Resource Fair will be held this Saturday, May 3, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Pocasset School, 242 Main Road, Tiverton. The fair will offer entertainment and provide community resource information. Blood pressure checks and a registered nurse will be available to answer questions. Booths will offer information and activities, and nationally known Matias the Magician will be there! Children will enjoy seeing the Tiverton Fire Truck exhibit and receiving free books. Refreshments will be available from the culinary arts students at Tiverton High School. The event is free and open to the public. Come and join the fun! For more information call Seena Franklin at x 150 or sfranklin@ebcap.org.

2 VITA Achieves Great Results for East Bay Tax Payers Story by Victoria White East Bay Community Action Program's Office of Civic Engagement, comprised of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Foster Grandparents, and AmeriCorps, hit a home run for tax payers throughout the State of Rhode Island! With trained volunteers from RSVP's Senior Corps, EBCAP AmeriCorps, and Roger Williams School of Law, more than 3,000 returns were prepared across the East Bay, putting nearly $4 million back into the pockets of hardworking Rhode Islanders. Audrey Field, RSVP Director, spoke about the results her team was able to achieve. "Thanks to our steadfast volunteer corps, EBCAP's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is number one in the State of Rhode Island for the number of tax returns completed in this statewide program sponsored by the United Way and the Internal Revenue Service," said Field. She continued, "Promoting multiple tax credits, such as the Earned Income Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunities Credit, and Tax Credits for the Elderly and Disabled enabled us to get the best return possible for our taxpayers. These are moms, dads, and individuals who are striving to meet the challenges of making ends meet, raise their families, and get an education. Our mission is to help our clients to obtain their goals through our service here in East Bay Community Action Program's VITA Program. Additionally, when our tax clients utilize the VITA Program, we have the opportunity to introduce them to other EBCAP services." Honorees Announced for the 11th Annual Seaside Gala Event Promises to be a "Magical" Evening Featuring Community and Public Service Awards, Live and Silent Auctions, Captivating Entertainment, Excellent Food and Castle Hill Inn at its Best! Story by Susan Schenck East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) will present its annual Vision Award to three local organizations that have helped the agency in an outstanding way (Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy, Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation, and Serve Rhode Island) and its Public Service Award to RI State Representative Helio Melo (District 64 - East Providence). The awardees will be recognized at EBCAP's 11th Annual Seaside Gala on June 12, 2014 at Castle Hill Inn and Resort in Newport. Read more Photo at right: State Representative Helio Melo, the recipient of EBCAP's 2014 Public Service Award. Amica Challenge Helps East Bay Residents with Heating Costs The Amica $75,000 Community Challenge, a month-long charity event partnering Amica Insurance with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, United Way of Rhode Island and Crossroads Rhode Island, ended on March 3. It raised more than $196,000, once again surpassing the initial goal of $150,000. Of the dollars raised, $6,437 was given to East Bay Community Action Program to aid East Bay residents with last resort heating assistance. Thank you to Amica Insurance, United Way of Rhode Island, and all the generous contributors! Thank You for Your Interest. Quick Links... Our Website Products Services More About Us East Bay Community Action Program 2

3 phone: ext. 302 web: Forward This was sent to by Update Profile/ Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. East Bay Community Action Program 19 Broadway Newport RI

4 "Sailing Home" - EBCH Celebrates 25 Years East Bay Coalition for the Homeless (EBCH) is proud to announce its 25 th year providing housing, support and services to homeless families. Sailing Home will be held, Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, beginning at 6:30 pm. This fundraising event will benefit EBCH, which is a program of East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP). This year we invite you to celebrate the success of more than 500 families that have participated in our housing program over the years. For the past twenty-five years, the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless has been transforming lives of homeless families. EBCH was founded in 1989 when community leaders and church groups joined forces to devise a strategy to meet the needs of the homeless in the East Bay. What began with one apartment has become a powerful current of change in the lives of families in need. By stabilizing homeless families in safe, affordable housing together with critical support and service, more than 85% of families become financially stable within 6 months and are able to move on and remain financially stable and secure within 18 months. In the last year, EBCH provided housing and support services to 27 families. The East Bay Coalition for the Homeless began by renting one apartment. Adding one property at a time, EBCH grew in an effort to meet housing needs in our community. In 2009, EBCH undertook its largest project. The Turner Avenue property had been vacant for a number of years. It was originally a residential Convent and had been subsequently utilized for Adult Day Care and, for a short time, a homeless shelter. EBCAP purchased the vacant property from Rhode Island Housing and developed a vital mixed use project with six apartments and two Head Start Classrooms. EBCH continues to be the only program in the East Bay providing transitional housing to homeless families. It currently operates 18 apartments - 9 apartments for transitional housing and 9 long-term supportive housing apartments. Our housing program truly transforms the lives of homeless families by providing safe, affordable housing and wrap-around supportive service in a holistic approach to guide them from crisis to long-term stability, said Diane Smith, EBCH Director. She continued, As East Bay Community Action s Housing program, we are able to provide high-quality, comprehensive and accessible health and human services to assist people to achieve their fullest potential. Through a one-stop shopping approach, we are able to provide a seamless array of services so that any door entered is the right door. Clearly, for the families requesting assistance, their incomes are insufficient to even cover the cost of rent. All would be struggling to provide other necessities, such as food and clothing. The

5 most frequent reason for homelessness cited by families in transitional housing is a lack of affordable housing. Other factors include unemployment, domestic violence, family breakup and medical problems. Overcoming these obstacles is the only way that families can regain independence. The number of homeless families continues to increase in Rhode Island due to the serious lack of affordable housing. The linkage between emergency shelter and the community-based and governmental services and resources that are often fragmented, may be difficult to access or simply not available to homeless families trying to attain stability and independence in permanent housing. The EBCH methodology facilitates the move into permanent housing for homeless families and then engages the newly-housed family in a progressive set of individualized case management activities and interventions for a limited period of time, as they move toward improved social and economic well-being breaking their cycle of homelessness. Ending homelessness is our ultimate goal. But there is a long road ahead. The Coalition would like to open that front door to stability and provide homeless families with more permanent solutions -thereby, closing that back door, and ending the cycle. The East Bay Coalition for the Homeless (EBCH) has an advisory board that meets monthly. Its members are actively involved in fundraising, promotion and advocacy. The Board helps establish policy, reviews program performance, leads the effort to develop assets, and raises critical funds to ensure financial health. Chosen for professional expertise and understanding of community issues, EBCH officers are: Tracy Spates, Chair; Karen Atwood, Treasurer; Dr. Susanne Patrick-MacKinnon, Secretary; and members: Kathryn Eden, LICSW, Valerie Fuchs, Joan Haas, Rachael Pierce, Tina Riccio, Rick Spates, and Jim Vincent.

6 Honorees Announced for the 11 th Annual Seaside Gala Event Promises to be a "Magical" Evening Featuring Community and Public Service Awards, Live and Silent Auctions, Captivating Entertainment, Excellent Food and Castle Hill Inn at its Best! East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) will present its annual Vision Award to three local organizations that have helped the agency in an outstanding way (Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy, Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation, and Serve Rhode Island) and its Public Service Award to RI State Representative Helio Melo (District 64 East Providence). The awardees will be recognized at EBCAP s 11 th Annual Seaside Gala on June 12, 2014 at Castle Hill Inn in Newport. The Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy (RICLAPP) will be honored with a 2014 Vision Award for providing free legal services to almost 100 EBCAP clients since Often those who find themselves most in need of legal services are least able to afford them. Elder Rhode Islanders have a particular need for legal services, especially in dealing with Medicare/Medicaid and social security issues. Other services provided include housing disputes, estate planning, wills/trusts, benefits, consumer issues, domestic violence, restraining orders, custody and child support, and guardianship and tax issues. The Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) will be honored with a 2014 Vision Award for providing hospitality training to 50 Rhode Island residents from the East Bay in partnership with EBCAP s Newport Skills Alliance Program (NSA). RIHEF develops, supports and promotes career growth opportunities within the hospitality industry, benefitting students, organizations and the RI economy. Since 2012, RIHEF s partnership with EBCAP/NSA has resulted in

7 students earning five nationally and industry recognized certificates, as well as three college credits from Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Serve Rhode Island will be honored with a 2014 Vision Award for its support of EBCAP s mission by providing an AmeriCorps team of 10 individuals each year for the past 5 years. These fifty AmeriCorps volunteers have contributed over 80,000 hours of service to EBCAP and many of its core programs including: Safety Net, Food Pantry, Heating and Energy, Health Services, Youth Centers, and Housing. EBCAP will also honor Rhode Island Representative Helio Melo with its 2014 Annual Public Service Award for his outstanding leadership on important issues affecting all Rhode Islanders, including education, health and human services, and tax reform. The Honorable and Mrs. Marvin L. Abney of Newport are the honorary event chairpersons. Marvin and Cheryl are strong supporters of EBCAP s health, human services and education programs, and Cheryl formerly served as an EBCAP board member. The Lead Corporate Sponsor of this year s event is Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. Master Magician Darren Yong will captivate and amaze guests with an up-close performance. He has performed throughout New England at red carpet events, night clubs, restaurants, and corporate and college events. He is a regular on Friday nights at embargo Restaurant on Cape Cod. The event will also feature live and silent auctions with items and packages including: a 7-day Holland America Line Cruise for two to either Mexico or the Caribbean, rounds of golf at three different courses: Newport Country Club, Newport National Golf Club, and Wanumetonomy Golf and

8 Country Club; other packages include get aways in Providence, Newport, Boston and New Hampshire. Auction items will be available for online bidding at beginning Tuesday, May 6. This year s event will also feature in-room mobile bidding on all silent auction items. Guests will be able to use any mobile device to bid on their favorite items. Bidders in the greater online community will also be able to continue to bid on the silent auction up until the close of bidding at 8:30 pm on June 12. Local businesses wishing to support the agency s event with donations to the auction may contact Maggie Laurianno, Event Coordinator, by publicrelations@ebcap.org or by telephone: , ext Items being sought include dining gift cards, sports and entertainment tickets, hotel stays, jewelry, certificates for services for the home and health and fitness. The event will include a cocktail hour, dinner, a silent auction, and music by the Mike Moran Band. Reservations for the Gala may be made by calling , ext. 339 or online at ebcap.org. East Bay Community Action Program is a non-profit agency that serves the residents of the East Bay (including Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton, Jamestown, Bristol, Warren, Barrington and East Providence) with a wide array of health and human services. -End-