Better Lives Rhode Island
Address
15 Hayes Street
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 454-7422
Description:
Better Lives RI is a non-profit agency whose mission is to offer stability, justice, and hope to those in need through advocacy and direct service. This is accomplished through our five program areas. They help people better their own lives by providing hope and support for a better tomorrow and food security and homeless services to get through today.
Food Security
Downtown Food Pantry: Twice a month guests can shop for the food they choose (!client choice!). In summer, They distribute boxes of food geared to children (with no school breakfast or lunch).
Friday Night Community Meal: Guests are served a sit-down dinner and can access programming; legal clinics health screenings, flu shots, nutrition information.
Homeless Outreach Program: Started by a homeless volunteer, he applied best practices of agencies he had once utilized himself. They work with the most marginalized: The newly and chronically homeless People with physical and mental disabilities Prisoners upon release Those suffering from addictions and in recovery. We empower our guests to meet their self-stated goals which include housing, access to health care, benefits, jobs, etc. Our basic needs items include clothing, use of the address, toiletries and photo ID!s. The most important thing we offer is hope and someone who will listen.
HOPE & SUPPORT
Intensive Case Management: They give people hope and help them build their own support system with intensive case management.
SOAR: (SSI/SSDI Outreach and Access to Recovery) This highly intensive program offers a fast track to SSI/SSDI benefits for chronically homeless disabled individuals.
Services
Click here to show all service details. Or click on a service name to see its details specifically.
Special Notes/Funding
Consent or release of information needs to be provided prior receiving service, verbally or written.
Description
They provide holistic case management on a walk-in basis to the homeless population. They give people hope and help them build their own support system with intensive case management. All people navigating services get intensive case management to facilitate their success. SOAR: (SSI/SSDI Outreach and Access to Recovery) This highly intensive program offers a fast track to SSI/SSDI benefits for chronically homeless disabled individuals.
Hours
Varies
Required Documents
None
Eligibility
Chronically homeless disabled individuals
Fees
None
Intake Procedure
Call/Walk-ins
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Special Notes/Funding
Operated by the RI Community Food Bank. Funded by a grant issued by the USDA and distributed through the RI Division of Elderly Affairs.
Description
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is the only USDA Nutrition program that provides a monthly package of healthy, nutritious food specifically for low income seniors. Food package includes: cereal, fruit juice, protein items, shelf stable milk, peanut butter, pasta, cheese, and canned fruits and vegetables
Hours
Varies
Required Documents
Photo ID, Proof of Income, Proof of Address
Eligibility
Ages 60+ and with income at or less than 130% of the Poverty Income Guidelines
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
Complete application
Service Area
Statewide
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Telephone Numbers
Special Notes/Funding
RI Community Food Bank member agency ***Expanded hours may be available due to COVID-19. Please call for information.
Description
Downtown Food Pantry located at 15 Hayes Street, in Gloria Dei Lutheran Church across from Providence Mall. Clients can access food pantry 2X a month; Clients can arrange for home delivery if disabled.
Availability
Handicapped Accessible
Hours
Mon 12:00AM-4:00PM, Tues-Fri 9:00AM-1:00PM
Required Documents
Photo ID Proof of address
Eligibility
Resident of Providence
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
First time: meet with intake worker and show required documents.
Languages
Spanish
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Telephone Numbers
Description
Meal Site located at 134 Matthewson Street, downtown Providence, in Matthewson Street Methodist Church. Offers programming nearly every week geared to guests including a free legal clinic monthly; health screenings; flu shots, and outreach by health care providers and SNAP
Availability
Not handicapped accessible
Hours
Fri: Doors open at 3:00PM, Meal served at 4:00PM-5:30PM
Required Documents
None
Eligibility
All are welcomed
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
None
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Contact
Telephone Numbers
Description
Thanksgiving Meal 2018: No dinner provided
Geography Served
None
Telephone Numbers
General Information
Hours:
Downtown Food Pantry: Mon 12:00-4:00PM, Tues-Fri 9:00AM-1:00PM;
Downtown Meal site: Fri: Doors open at 3:00PM, Meal served at 4:00PM-5:30PM (only PICA site not handicapped accessible);
Homeless Outreach and Supportive Services Hours: Mon-Thu 9:30AM-12:00PM and 1:00PM-3:30PM.
Intake Process:
Walk-in
Program Fees:
No Fees
Eligibility:
Varies
Handicap Accessible?
Yes
Accessibility:
(only PICA site not handicapped accessible)
Is Shelter?
No
Miscellaneous
AKA:
formerly Providence In-Town Churches Association; PICA
Related Resource
Date of Official Change:
March 4, 2022
Legal Status:
Non-Profit
Year Incorporated:
1974
Services
Click here to show all service details. Or click on a service name to see its details specifically.
Special Notes/Funding
Consent or release of information needs to be provided prior receiving service, verbally or written.
Description
They provide holistic case management on a walk-in basis to the homeless population. They give people hope and help them build their own support system with intensive case management. All people navigating services get intensive case management to facilitate their success. SOAR: (SSI/SSDI Outreach and Access to Recovery) This highly intensive program offers a fast track to SSI/SSDI benefits for chronically homeless disabled individuals.
Hours
Varies
Required Documents
None
Eligibility
Chronically homeless disabled individuals
Fees
None
Intake Procedure
Call/Walk-ins
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Special Notes/Funding
Operated by the RI Community Food Bank. Funded by a grant issued by the USDA and distributed through the RI Division of Elderly Affairs.
Description
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is the only USDA Nutrition program that provides a monthly package of healthy, nutritious food specifically for low income seniors. Food package includes: cereal, fruit juice, protein items, shelf stable milk, peanut butter, pasta, cheese, and canned fruits and vegetables
Hours
Varies
Required Documents
Photo ID, Proof of Income, Proof of Address
Eligibility
Ages 60+ and with income at or less than 130% of the Poverty Income Guidelines
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
Complete application
Service Area
Statewide
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Telephone Numbers
Special Notes/Funding
RI Community Food Bank member agency ***Expanded hours may be available due to COVID-19. Please call for information.
Description
Downtown Food Pantry located at 15 Hayes Street, in Gloria Dei Lutheran Church across from Providence Mall. Clients can access food pantry 2X a month; Clients can arrange for home delivery if disabled.
Availability
Handicapped Accessible
Hours
Mon 12:00AM-4:00PM, Tues-Fri 9:00AM-1:00PM
Required Documents
Photo ID Proof of address
Eligibility
Resident of Providence
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
First time: meet with intake worker and show required documents.
Languages
Spanish
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Telephone Numbers
Description
Meal Site located at 134 Matthewson Street, downtown Providence, in Matthewson Street Methodist Church. Offers programming nearly every week geared to guests including a free legal clinic monthly; health screenings; flu shots, and outreach by health care providers and SNAP
Availability
Not handicapped accessible
Hours
Fri: Doors open at 3:00PM, Meal served at 4:00PM-5:30PM
Required Documents
None
Eligibility
All are welcomed
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
None
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Contact
Telephone Numbers
Description
Thanksgiving Meal 2018: No dinner provided
Geography Served
None
Telephone Numbers
Description
Clothing distributed during meal on Friday at 4:00PM. Clothing closet held at 134 Mathewson Street.
Hours
Clothing Closet: Fri 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Required Documents
None
Eligibility
Providence Residents
Fees
No Fees
Intake Procedure
Walk-in
Service Area
Providence
Geography Served
- Rhode Island
- Providence County
- Providence
- Providence County
If a location is grayed out it means that only certain areas within it are covered. The areas with complete covereage are listed in black.
Address Listings
Mailing
PO Box 5639
Providence, RI 02903
Physical (Primary)
15 Hayes Street
Providence, RI 02908
Contacts
George Gassett
Supervisor
Downtown Food Pantry Coordinator
(401) 454-7422
Liz McGrath
Supervisor
Friday Night Meal Site Coordinator
(401) 454-7422
Lorraine Burns
Supervisor
Olneyville Food Center Coordinator
(401) 454-7422
Phone Numbers
Main Phone
(401) 454-7422
Fax
(401) 831-0480
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