About us
Lucy’s Hearth is a 24-hour emergency and transitional shelter in Newport County serving children and their families who are experiencing homelessness.
Our Mission
To ensure that all families have a place to call home.
Our Vision
Lucy’s Hearth believes that homeless families can overcome barriers to self-sufficiency through the combination of holistic programs and services offered in a hopeful, safe and nurturing environment.
Take a guided tour of our Middletown facility, supporting children and families that are experiencing homelessness.
Our Programs
Lucy’s Hearth is situated on 2.2 acres at 19 Valley Road and has been renovated to meet the critical needs of the vulnerable families we serve and includes: individual family efficiency units that contain bathrooms and kitchenettes, renovated common spaces such as a commercial kitchen, spacious dining room, TV room, 2 renovated playgrounds, a learning center along with updated, confidential staff offices.
Emergency Shelter Program
The goal for each family is to achieve permanent, affordable housing and to increase each family’s self-sufficiency. While in residence, families undergo a comprehensive assessment, create short and long-term goals engage in self-sufficiency programming. Programming offered to all families includes daily life skills groups, financial literacy classes, parenting classes, housing locator training and landlord-tenant education programs. All residents receive weekly case management, referrals to community resources for medical and dental care, education and training program, and mental health care.
Lucy’s Hearth is committed to the success of the children residing at Lucy’s Hearth as well. We coordinate closely with the personnel from the school departments, local childcare providers, and before and after school programs to ensure good communication, meeting attendance and support our children. We have a part-time Children’s Activity Coordinator on site three days of the week to facilitate on-site and off-site activities for children of all ages and assist with homework.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Lucy’s Hearth provides permanent subsidized housing through the Continuum of Care and Rhode Island Housing. These apartments are available for Lucy’s Hearth residents who require long-term stabilization services.
Outreach and Aftercare Program
Lucy’s Hearth is committed to ensuring its residents avoid future homelessness. Former residents of any Lucy’s Hearth program may receive, for up to six months,
- case management,
- crisis intervention,
- budgeting assistance,
- referrals to community providers, and
- advocacy to assist in accessing community resources or to trouble-shoot issues that may arise.