RI motel vouchers available through Tri-Town CAA

Residents of several Rhode Island communities are protected from homelessness by an emergency shelter program that provides immediate aid to those in crisis. Tri-Town Community Action Agency can step in to help those who may have just been evicted from their home and otherwise have no place to turn to.

Who is Tri-Town?

Tri-Town Community Action Agency is a nonprofit organization that serves communities within Providence and Kent counties. Specifically, residents of Burrillville, Glocester, Johnston, North Providence, North Smithfield and Smithfield are served by the agency which receives funding from public and private grantmaking organizations.

Motel vouchers

Motel vouchers are issued to eligible applicants who find themselves suddenly homeless. Homelessness could be due to an eviction from a home or apartment, or it could be a result of being asked to move out of the home of friends or family. Either way, they have no place to turn and may be forced to sleep in a car or other unacceptable accommodation without immediate help.

What Tri-Town can do is to provide emergency motel vouchers that can be used to cover the fees for one or more night’s stay at an area motel. While stays of up to a week sometimes occur, the goal is to help families locate suitable accommodations sooner. The agency will pick up the tab from the motel room.

While the immediate shelter needs are covered, a case manager will work with each family to help them locate a place to move. Often there is resistance to gaining access to permanent housing due to being unable to afford the rent and security deposits. Referrals to rental aid programs can meet these goals, but there is another option as well.

Tri-Town can refer applicants to transitional housing programs, which will in turn provide shelter for a few weeks or months while savings are replenished. If no vacancy exists, motel vouchers could be issued to provide safe housing while waiting for the next vacancy.

Anyone who finds themselves homeless should contact Tri-Town immediately at 401-519-1917. They can help right away.