Advocate

Anyone can champion the cause. Whether you’re speaking out to improve education, income and housing; reaching out to your elected officials; or wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt to show your support, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. So go ahead and advocate in a LIVE UNITED world.

Edwin Pacheco - Exchange City - United Way Advocate

You can help save the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP). 

United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) is committed to permanent supportive housing

At UWRI, we believe the way to end chronic homelessness in Rhode Island is through programs like Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP).  Unfortunately, NOP has been left out of proposed state budget. We have joined a final call to action to push legislators to revive funding for NOP. Click here to send a message of support for NOP to a Representative in your area. 

 What is NOP?

The Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP) is a cost-effective program that has helped many in our state and has played an integral part in the development of affordable housing in our community. NOP is now in 28 cities and towns and has created an additional 1,188 units of affordable housing, which includes the production of family housing, permanent supportive housing and home ownership opportunities.

Combined, there are a total of 2,525 affordable housing units in Rhode Island.  NOP was a major contributing factor in this achievement. Read more

Click here to read the issue brief by HousingWorks RI on NOP.

Sen. Jack Reed urges Rhode Islanders to help with the flood relief efforts

Click here to see the video

Our work to get passed the 'Calling for 2-1-1 Act'

Legislation would provide Federal funding for 2-1-1 call centers in every state

United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) is working in conjunction with United Way Worldwide (UWW) and United Ways across the country to pass the Calling for 2-1-1 Act (H.R. 211/S 211).

click here to read the Act.

UWRI has surpassed its goal of signing on 2-1-1 co-sponsors to bolster the bill’s chances of a hearing. In addition to the House bill’s lead sponsor, there are 220 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and 57 sponsors in the Senate. All four of Rhode Island’s delegation – Senators  Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin – all signed on to the bill early on.

United Way of Rhode Island is celebrating 278 cosponsors for the Calling for 211 Act. Learn more about it and thank your legislators for supporting United Way 211 in Rhode Island by clicking here.

United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island is the fastest and easiest way for Rhode Islanders to get answers to questions about what worries them the most. Last year, 2-1-1 information referral specialists responded to 122,000 calls helping individuals to obtain assistance on social, human and health issues. This represents a 20 percent from the year before.

During the massive flooding in late March/early April of 2010, 2-1-1 took on a lead and vital role in efforts to get non-emergency assistance to those most affected by floodingl. During the most intensive five days of the disaster, 2-1-1 responded to more than 16,000 calls.

Funding the 2-1-1 program is gravely necessary. Currently this important service lacks stable long-term financing. 2-1-1 call centers need consistent sources of revenue to build and maintain an adequate telecommunications infrastructure; offer appropriate staffing levels and training; give consistent 24/7 service; ensure complete and accurate information databases; and reach rural populations.

United Ways across the country are now working hard to urge our Congressional delegates to get the bill heard and get it passed. We will continue to monitor the legislation’s progress and to be a resource to our delegates as they support this critical program.

United Way of RI & RI Public Expenditure Council Social Safety Net Study for RI

UWRI and RIPEC teamed up for a joint study on the range of services that comprise R.I.’s Social Safety Net and the populations it serves. The study, the first of its kind in Rhode Island and entitled Social Safety Net Study for Rhode Island: Data Analysis Summary and Conceptual Framework, also examined enrollment and cost trends and offered information on comparisons to other N.E. states.

UWRI & RIPEC Social Safety Net Study for RI

United Way of RI Nonprofit Sector Survey

UWRI and Acadia Consulting Group, a nationally recognized marketing research firm, unveiled the results of a survey of the Rhode Island nonprofit sector, sponsored by UWRI, on April 27, 2009. Click here to learn of the actions nonprofits are taking to deal with an increasing demand for services during a time when resources available to them are being constrained.