On Friday, April 12 the WARM Center held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of a $2.24 million revitalization effort in Westerly, Rhode Island that created 6 units of supportive housing for individuals who had experienced chronic homelessness and 2, two-bedroom units for families in a nearby neighborhood. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by community members, supportive housing providers, affordable housing developers, federal, state and local leaders and members of the homeless community.
The event included remarks from Rhode Island’s U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Westerly Town Manager Steven Hartford, Rhode Island Housing’s Executive Director Richard Godfrey, New England Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Barbara Fields, Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) Director Craig Stenning and CSH’s Michelle Brophy.
The building also houses a critical center for social services – Anita’s Kitchen and Attire for Hire. This project was part of the vision of the agency’s, long-term and now retired Executive Director, the Reverend Jean Barry, who was also honored at the ribbon cutting for her dedication to ending homelessness and determination to see this project to fruition.
CSH provided a Project Initiation Loan to look at the project’s feasibility and help move the vision forward. The permanent funding sources for this project included HOME, HUD’s 811 program, Thresholds, and Building Homes Rhode Island.
Photos: Gretchen Ertl Photography
