Lucy's Hearth Homeless Shelter Earns Accreditation

Tara D’Ambra, a mother of two daughters who became homeless at the age of 21, on Thursday celebrated a milestone with the local shelter that had helped her find her way through that difficult time.

She joined those who run Lucy's Hearth, officials from Family Service of Rhode Island and Congressman David Cicilline, as the group celebrated the shelter's accreditation from theCouncil on Accreditation (COA) for the first time in the shelter’s 27-year history with a press conference at the shelter to share the news with the community. The COA accreditation helps ensure for its residents, funders and community that it adheres to the top standards of care.

Speaking with media on Thursday, D’Ambra described how , a 24-hour emergency shelter for women and children located in Middletown, had helped her find her way through that difficult time and how she and her family had come out stronger in the process.

“The program at Lucy’s helped me with budgeting, parenting, nutrition and assisting and managing daily stress,”  D’Ambra recalled.

She and her daughters were able to move into their own apartment last July, she said.

When women and children come to Lucy's Hearth, a temporary long-term shelter, achieving independence again is always a primary goal.

“Lucy’s Hearth is the first place we felt comfortable,” D’Ambra said.

Lucy’s Hearth shelters about 40 women and 70 children annually, according to shelter officials. The average length of a stay is three to six months, although some families have stayed as long as a year.  The organization also provides transitional housing and aftercare services for families once they leave the shelter.   

The COA is an international, not-for-profit accreditation organization based out of New York City, that partners with human service organizations to measure services and administrative processes against national best practices.  

“The accreditation process is all about accountability. The accountability to the women we serve, accountability to our funders, and an accountability to the community,” said Margaret Holland, the CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island, a non-profit that became affiliated with Lucy's Hearth in 2007.

Lucy’s Hearth began preparations for the accreditation a year ago, Holland said.

“It was a lot of work, it wasn’t easy, and to top it off, we will be going through it again in four years,” she said.  

“This accreditation process is difficult,” United States Congressman David Cicilline said at the press conference. He noted, “Lots of agencies go through it and do not receive accreditation."

In addition to shelter services, Lucy's Hearth provides a homeless prevention program and rapid rehousing services for Newport County residents.