Now
Contact CAPP401-273-2000
COVID - 19 Relief
CAPP offers home heating assistance (LIHEAP), a food pantry, basic needs including coats, diapers and baby needs, rental/mortgage assistance.
See below for additional resources:
Basic Needs/Referrals
2-1-1 is the statewide resource center for information and referrals, and it comes with the support and expertise of a national network of referral experts.
Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) is a comprehensive non-profit social service organization that manages, through thoughtful coordination and a shared vision, programs across Rhode Island, providing essential resources for underserved individuals, families and communities.
UWRI has been on the path of an “Impact United Way” since 2005. The “Impact United Way” is focused on generating measurable results to create a better community and to be relevant to donors. We have executed strategies that have combined strong public policy work, funding, and advocacy with measurable success. We have moved to a new location and made the headquarters come alive with community organizations and people in need of service from United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island.
Through a cooperative effort between sponsoring energy companies, United Way of Rhode Island, the business community, and the people of Rhode Island, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has assisted more than 46,250 families since its inception in 1986.
Department of Human Services - State Benefits
DHS is an organization of opportunity, working hand-in-hand with other resources in Rhode Island to offer a full continuum of services for families, adults, children, elders, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.
The mission of RIPTA is to provide safe, reliable and cost effective transit service with a skilled team of professionals responsive to our customers, the environment, and committed to transit excellence.
Rhode Island Housing strives to ensure that all people who live or work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. A good home provides the foundation upon which individuals and families thrive, children learn and grow, and communities prosper.
The Commission enforces the Rhode Island antidiscrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and delivery of services. Through impartial investigation, formal and informal resolution efforts, predetermination conferences and administrative hearings, the Commission seeks to ensure due process for both complainants (charging parties) and respondents (those against whom charges are filed), to provide redress for victims of discrimination, and to properly dismiss cases against businesses and individual respondents when charges of discrimination lack evidentiary support.
Financial Relief
Apply for Unemployment Insurance
Food
RI Delivers - Rhode Islanders’ connection to help for those living in quarantine or isolation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Find a Food Pantry near you
Meal Sites for School-Aged Children
General Health (see additional resources for behavioral / mental health support)
RI Department of Health (RIDOH)
For general questions about COVID-19, call RIDOH’s COVID-19 hotline: (401) 222-8022.
World Health Organization (WHO) Information Page
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
Information on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), such as Ibuprofen, for COVID-19
Prescription Drug Delivery - CVS
Prescription Drug Delivery - Walgreens
Housing
Housing Help RI is a statewide homelessness prevention initiative to assist Rhode Islanders who are experiencing housing insecurity. The program provides emergency housing assistance to very low-income renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and are at immediate risk of homelessness.
Eviction Prevention The shared vision is that all Rhode Islanders live in safe, healthy, affordable homes in thriving communities. Our common agenda is to increase and preserve the supply of safe, healthy and affordable homes throughout Rhode Island. We also seek to equitably reduce the housing cost burden for low and moderate-income residents.
Additional Community Resources
Not in Providence? There are Community Action Agencies that serve every RI Community! Click below to find the CAA nearest you!
Behavioral/Mental Health
Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH)
BHDDH administers a system of care that provides services for more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders with mental health and substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities, and chronic long-term medical and psychiatric conditions.
BH Link is a behavioral health facility designed to provide immediate assistance to a person in crisis by providing innovative crisis intervention services, and connecting people to ongoing treatment and care. Services are provided by our professional team of registered nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, phone screeners, and peer specialists. Our clinicians will listen to clients’ concerns and take the necessary steps to get people through their crisis, and help make connections to longer term services if needed.
Luna Counseling & Community Care
LUNA Community Care is a cooperative childcare center that serves disabled parents and the families of disabled children by providing wraparound services including case management, crisis support, peer groups, job training, co-working space and online and in person care communities (Village Nurture).
NAMI Rhode Island is a State Organization affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We offer an array of education and training programs and services for consumers, family members, schools, providers and the general public. These programs draw on the experience of mental health consumers and family members who have learned to live well with their illnesses and are eager to help others, as well as the expertise of mental health professionals and educators.
CDC Article on Anxiety and Stress Management
CDC Article on Maintaining Emotional Health
WHO "Mental Health considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak"
Domestic Violence (see also: Shelters)
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The purpose of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence is to eliminate domestic violence in Rhode Island. Their mission is to support and enhance the work of our member agencies and to provide leadership on the issue of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
The Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County (DVRCSC) is a nonprofit agency that works toward a future free of violence, and to build a community in which each individual shares the responsibility to create a culture of safety and personal dignity.
Since 1977, Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has been a listening ear, a helping hand and in some cases, a lifeline to individuals experiencing domestic violence.
Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center is an essential community agency providing a comprehensive approach to ending domestic violence while supporting victims and the greater community through education, advocacy and therapeutic services.
Education
Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)
To create and support great schools and programs RIDE works with communities, families, civic leaders, and all educators so that Rhode Island leads the way in public education.
Learn English free online at USA Learns! Fun videos and activities teach basic and intermediate ESL to adults around the world.
For more than a decade, the GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers 125 tutorials, including more than 1,100 lessons, videos, and interactives, completely free.
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. They tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.
Educational Activities for Kids/Teens
Downloadable Activities from Junior Achievement
Smithsonian Institution Online
Roger Williams Zoo - Zoo School
Elder Needs
In order to find the states that are most friendly to seniors and offer the highest quality of life, Caring.com’s Senior Living Report graded every state in the U.S. across six different categories, using 70 individual metrics. Below you can see how Rhode Island compared to the rest of the nation.
Formerly the Department of Elderly Affairs, we partner with organizations throughout Rhode Island to connect you with information and resources that help you age strong. And we advocate for laws, policies and investments that protect your rights and agency. In 2019, we served more than 150,000 Rhode Islanders.
Employment Resources
RI Department of Labor and Training - Unemployment Benefits
The RI Department of Labor and Training oversees various benefit programs for Rhode Island workers and employers.
Rhode Island's One-Stop Career Center System is a proud partner of American Job Center network.
The netWORKri centers are conveniently located throughout the state where jobseekers and employers are matched through quality employment programs and services.
Financial Empowerment
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (NWBRV) offers the BOOST! Financial Empowerment program. Get help to better manage your money, set and meet financial goals, track expenses, obtain and use credit wisely, set up checking and savings accounts, and much more. The team of NeighborWorks America and H.U.D. credentialed coaches will meet you where you are and get you on the path to achieving your financial dreams.
Office of Economic Empowerment
The Economic Progress Institute
The Economic Progress Institute - formerly The Poverty Institute - is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders.
Food
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributes food to people in need through a statewide network of 168 member agencies. These agencies include food pantries, meal sites, shelters, youth programs and senior centers.
Rhode Islanders’ connection to help for those living in quarantine or isolation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Homeowners' Resources
Free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
All residents and visitors should be protected by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Through grants awarded to the Providence Fire Department, the City of Providence is able to offer free smoke detectors (and carbon monoxide detectors when available) to low income and handicapped residents of one, two and three family houses in Providence.
Legal Services
Our mission is to provide high quality representation to our clients, fulfilling the governmental obligation of effective assistance of counsel, fundamental fairness and due process. Our goal is to provide client-centered advice, holistic representation and zealous advocacy. Our commitment is to treat our clients with dignity, compassion and fairness.
Rhode Island Legal Services provides high quality legal assistance and representation to low-income individuals and eligible client groups.
LGBTQAAI+ Community & Allies
Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
The Greater Providence area chapter of PFLAG, formerly known as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We provide support, education and advocacy for parents, families, friends and allies of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people across Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Connecticut.
The Human Rights Campaign fights for LGBTQ equality alongside lawmakers at the local and state levels across the country. Find out what HRC is doing in Rhode Island and how you can help secure equal rights for all of its LGBTQ citizens.
Medical Care
The Rhode Island Department of Health's mission is to prevent disease and protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island.
Founded in 1999, the Rhode Island Free Clinic’s mission is to provide free, comprehensive medical care and preventive health services to adults who have no health insurance and cannot afford those services; and to serve as an educational training site for aspiring health care professionals.
Sexual Assault & Sex Trafficking
Day One is the only agency in Rhode Island that is specifically organized to deal with issues of sexual assault as a community concern. We provide treatment, intervention, education, advocacy, and prevention services to Rhode Islanders of all ages—from preschool children to elder adults. Additionally, we advocate for public policy initiatives and systemic changes that positively impact how Rhode Island families handle sexual abuse cases.
Since it's founding, Project Weber enrolled 263 men, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, needle exchange, and support groups
Since 2006 RENEW served over 1000 women, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, and case management.
Sexual Health
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health
Shelters
Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
Substance Use & Recovery
CODAC's mission is to provide the highest standard of behavioral health services in a recovery-oriented system of care.
There are different types of mental illness, severity of symptoms, and coinciding problems, and each person's experiences are different. Working closely with our mental health professionals, you are an active participant in your treatment plan.
List of virtual AA Meetings
For assistance finding a rehab facility in Rhode Island and other rehabilitation-related resources.
Recognizing Signs of Substance/Alcohol Abuse in Elders
Substance abuse in the elderly is more common than you think. We’re typically concerned about controlling drugs and alcohol in younger populations. While this is important, we neglect to help an entire age group at times. Addiction in senior citizens is something serious we all need to talk about.
PORI is an initiative of the Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force, in collaboration with the RI Department of Health (RIDOH), the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare and Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), and Brown University School of Public Health.
Since it's founding, Project Weber enrolled 263 men, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, needle exchange, and support groups
Since 2006 RENEW served over 1000 women, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, and case management.
Substance Use & Mental Health Leadership Council
The mission of the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI is to promote a collaborative, coordinated system of high quality, comprehensive community-based mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
VICTA includes a dedicated and talented team that include Board Certified Addiction Medicine Medical Director, PhD Psychologist, Master level licensed clinicians, RN nursing staff and case managers. Together they offer a combined experience of over 100 years of expertise in the treatment of addiction and mental health.
Suicide Prevention
Within the belief that suicide is generally preventable, the mission of The Samaritans is to help reduce the incidents of suicide in Rhode Island through greater access to information and resources. To achieve this mission, The Samaritans recognizes that suicide prevention is a process involving many community resources.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. SPRC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Veterans Affairs
Resources and information to help personnel and their survivors and dependents by providing a wide range of social, medical, rehabilitative and burial services.
Youth Services
Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)
The mission of the RI DCYF is to partner with families and communities to raise safe and healthy children and youth in a caring environment.