Smith Hill CDC and Sojourner House Open Housing for Domestic Violence Victims

Monday, September 15, 2014

GoLocalProv News Team

Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Sojourner House have partnered to create a permanent supportive housing for victims of domestic violence. This is the first of initiative of its kind in the state.

The Smith Hill CDC will own and maintain the building, and Sojourner House will provide supportive case management and programming to the residents living in these apartments.

“Domestic violence remains a public health issue of epidemic proportions in Rhode Island and throughout the rest of the United States.  Sojourner House's work focuses on meeting the needs of clients where there are, and through the operation of our emergency Safe House and transitional housing program, it has become clear that survivors need continued advocacy and support, as well as safe, secure housing,” said Vanessa Volz, Executive Director of Sojourner House.  “This project we are launching with the Smith Hill CDC allows us to expand our continuum of services for the community.”

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The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. Many of these victims are forced to stay with or return to their abusive partners because of a lack of available shelter or affordable housing. In 2000, more than half of the U.S. cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference to Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness.

Sojourner House

Since 1988, Sojourner House has operated an emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors in northern RI. In 2008, it launched a transitional housing program, which provides housing for families impacted by domestic violence for a maximum of 18-24 months. While these programs continue to be successful and serve individuals and families in crisis in need of housing, it is clear that there is a need for more permanent housing options. This effort is their next step in their continuum of services where clients have access to permanent housing and receive case management, advocacy, programming, and related domestic violence services.

Smith Hill Community Development Corporation

The Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (SHCDC) was founded in 1992 in collaboration with a group of dedicated community residents. Now in its 22nd year of successful community development in the Smith Hill Neighborhood, the organization’s mission remains unchanged:  An unfettered commitment to the creation and sustaining of affordable housing to low-moderate income families and individuals through both rental and homeownership opportunities. Additionally, the SHCDC seeks to promote a sense of community and stimulate economic development for all of its community residents.

To date, SHCDC has created over 170 units or new “homes” in the Smith Hill Neighborhood.  While the SHCDC focuses primarily on rehabilitation of old housing stock into high quality affordable rental units, SHCDC also has built new homes and commercial space, developed condominiums as well as rehabilitated old houses to be made available for homeownership. 

“Smith Hill CDC prides itself in providing good, quality affordable housing, offering a myriad of housing options for all persons with diverse socio-economic backgrounds.  From low and moderate income rental housing to first time homeownership and landlord opportunities, from transitional housing for previously homeless families to workforce housing condominiums and now our newest kind of housing - - permanent supportive housing for domestic abuse survivors, said Jean Lamb, Acting Executive Director of Smith Hill Community Development Corporation. “We believe our contribution to the community gives hope to not only our current community members but to our newest residents of Smith Hill and that this housing option delivers the needed support bringing them one step closer to comfort, safety, and sense of belonging that gives their life meaning.”

Funding for this initiative comes from Building Homes Rhode Island (BHRI) and Rhode Island Housing’s HOME and Lead programs. In addition, support from the City of Providence, Providence College and the United Way have made the project possible.

“Safe, healthy and affordable homes like these are a key element in creating joyful and thriving families and individuals. Survivors of domestic violence have special needs that this unique partnership between a community development corporation and a domestic violence agency can and will address,” said Richard Godfrey, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing. “Safety is critical but so is an affordable, pleasant home coupled with services such as counseling, education and job training.  We are thrilled to have played a key role in this innovative but deeply needed approach to addressing the housing needs of survivors of domestic violence.”

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