Riverwood's Housing First RI (HFRI) serves the chronically homeless statewide.   Based out of offices in Providence, Housing First Rhode Island provides Rapid access to permanent housing and voluntary access to a variety of services.  Unlike traditional programs, sobriety or participation in treatment is not a condition of receiving housing.  Residents must only comply with the tenets of a standard lease.  Once housed, the housing itself becomes an ongoing incentive to change.  We have found that most will do whatever is necessary to keep their housing, including accessing treatment.

Housing First is a very effective program. More than 80% of the participants remain in housing for 12 months or more. The program also saves a tremendous amount of public resources.  An Independent evaluation of Housing First Rhode Island conducted by Eric Hirsch, a professor at Providence College concluded that Housing First saves an average of $8,110 per person, saving taxpayers in Rhode Island over $1.3 million each year.

This financial success is mirrored by the human benefits that come from having safe, decent and affordable housing.  Residents are accessing medical and dental care.  We are seeing social growth and in a few cases, families have been reunified.  And in nearly every case, the residents are truly grateful and appreciative of the opportunity they have been given.

Housing First Rhode Island receives funding from a variety of sources including the RI Department of Behavioral Health,Developmental Disabiities and Hospitals,  the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the United Way of Rhode Island as well as private foundation and individual donors.  Housing First also manages nearly $1 Million in housing subsidies each year.

For more information or to make a referral, contact:

Housing First Rhode Island
383 W. Fountain St.
Providence, RI 02909
Phone: 401-272-3018