Ready for Families: Lucy's Hearth to Open New Shelter on Valley Road

MIDDLETOWN, RI -- The shelter's new digs on Valley Road are ready. According to Jennifer Barrera, executive director of Lucy's Hearth, the ribbon will be cut at 10:30 a.m., Thursday (Oct. 13) at the grand opening.

For many years, she said, homeless women and their families in an emergency found a safe place to stay at Lucy's Hearth, located in a leased building behind St. Lucy's Church, on West Main Road, Middletown.

But that building, a former convent, was stretched to the max.

"Over the years, the shelter has expanded its service continuum with a focus on self-sufficiency to help families increase their ability to live independently thus breaking the cycle of homelessness," she said. "Lucy’s Hearth has consistently operated at capacity from an outdated building that is no longer suitable for the vulnerable women and children they serve."

But now the shelter has its own building at 19 Valley Road, around the corner.

"With over 9,300 square feet of space the new building provides a tremendous upgrade from the current facility," she said.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and other elected officials are expected to attend the grand opening and speak, she said.