Impact of RI HOPE

The RI HOPE Team is here to help you
RI HOPE reaches out to citizens in every city and town through three teams covering the following regions:

Region 1: Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield, Warren and Woonsocket.

Region 2: Coventry, Cranston, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Warwick and West Warwick.

Region 3: Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, Block Island, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, Richmond, South Kingstown, Tiverton and Westerly.

Project Managers
Project Managers oversee all team leaders and outreach workers in their assigned region. They supervise all activities and ensure that team leaders and outreach workers are properly trained and equipped with the information they need to help you.

Team Leaders
Team Leaders supervise outreach workers and monitor the performance of their duties. A Team Leader will follow up with anyone that outreach workers feel requires additional care or information.

Outreach Workers
Outreach workers are visiting affected neighborhoods and businesses across the State to speak with individuals impacted by the disaster. These workers can provide people with emotional support, educate them about common disaster reactions, teach them coping skills and refer them to additional services and resources if necessary. In addition, they are reaching out to people at various locations such as senior centers, schools, community events and local shopping areas.

RI HOPE: Making a Difference in Flood Victims' Lives

RI HOPE is making a positive impact on the lives of people facing challenges due to the flood. As outreach workers are meeting individuals and families in neighborhoods and at community events, they are providing guidance, emotional support and information to help people recover.

Here are some examples of the impact of RI HOPE

• An elderly woman, overwhelmed by the existence of mold and other damage in her basement, was also coping with the loss of her husband just three months before. Outreach workers saw her willingness to talk about her losses. They understood the importance of the process of sharing and the role it can play in helping people effectively respond to overwhelming stress. The workers stayed with her, listened, and provided a resource for her to call. When RI HOPE followed up, the woman had received the assistance she needed.
• A woman had severe flooding issues in her home including the breakdown of her boiler. An injury prevents her from working, her husband's unemployment benefits have run out, and she is struggling to heat her home and pay her bills. She was tearful and expressed hopelessness and despair, as outreach workers listened to her story. At a second meeting, an RI HOPE team leader helped her prioritize her needs and set realistic, practical goals. When RI HOPE followed up, the woman was achieving her goals.