Project Weber/RENEW celebrates serving over 1,000 individuals in its innovative Recovery Housing Program

The program supports people entering recovery, creating a bridge between harm reduction and recovery services and acting as a lifeline to those at-risk for overdose.

Providence, RI - March 14, 2024  – Project Weber/RENEW, Rhode Island's largest harm reduction and recovery agency, proudly announces it has placed over 1,000 individuals in its Recovery Housing Program in the last 3 years. 

The recovery housing program provides comprehensive case management, peer-recovery support, and direct financial payments for housing to individuals who are interested in entering recovery housing. A central tenet of this approach is providing  financial support to the recovery house: this allows individuals to focus on their recovery while also working to gain employment. The organization has paid for 24,997 nights in housing for these 1,000 individuals, paying a total of $400,081 directly to recovery houses to ensure people’s safe and supported recovery journeys.  

"I never thought I'd find a place where I truly belonged until I started coming to Project Weber/RENEW every day," said Carl Montague, Project Weber/RENEW  Case Manager. "Losing my mom and partner in the same week almost derailed my recovery, but the connections I made at Project Weber/RENEW kept me on track. The recovery housing program provided not just shelter but a true sense of belonging and connection. It was the missing piece in my previous attempts at staying sober, and the unique bond with PWR became the game-changer this time. When Denniss [Project Weber/RENEW Client Services Manager] offered me a role, I couldn't hold back the tears. It felt like all the work I put into my recovery had paid off. My family says they've never seen me this happy, and it's true. PWR gave me more than support; it gave me a new life, and for that, I'm eternally grateful."

The Project Weber/RENEW  Recovery Housing Program began in 2017 based on peer staff feedback. Staff had expressed how difficult it was to transport people who are unhoused to treatment, only to have them released to the streets several days later when they were discharged.  This put clients at higher risk for overdose: it was difficult for people to maintain their recovery while homeless and also their tolerance was reduced from their treatment stay. The Recovery Housing Program meant that people no longer fell through the cracks and were better set up for success. By 2021 the recovery housing program was an integral part of PWR’s spectrum of services. 

"When the recovery housing program began, I vividly remember the joy I felt, knowing that we could finally assist people in need. Initially, it was a temporary rental assistance program, and today, it stands as one of the largest programs within our organization," said Dennis Berganza, Client Services Manager. "Over the last year, the demand for recovery housing assistance has surged dramatically. We've successfully aided over 1,000 clients since 2021, with half of those individuals finding housing just in the last year. Funding challenges for this program not only jeopardize lives but also eliminate a crucial safe space for individuals to build a foundation for a better life. Witnessing individuals thrive, progressing from recovery housing to securing their own apartments or pursuing education, gives me the energy to continue this challenging work. ,

“When I think about those 1000 people, including several of our staff who were once clients, I think about the enormous impact that each one of those people have had on their families, their community, and the state of RI. When a pebble is thrown into the water, we often do not know how far those ripples go.  These weeks or months of recovery housing have often been the key to stability, enabling folks to build a strong recovery foundation, and transform their own lives as well as the lives of countless others.”  said Colleen Daley Ndoye, PWR’s Executive Director. 

The program’s success is attributed to the staff and to long-standing funding partners, with special appreciation for recent supporter Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Their support has been instrumental in the recent success of this crucial initiative.

Despite this invaluable support, Project Weber/RENEW confronts a considerable funding gap as several grants funding the recovery housing program are drastically decreasing - creating a significant impact in the number of individuals for whom recovery housing can be funded. To ensure the continuity of safe and supported recovery journeys, the organization is actively seeking funding partnerships.  Contributions will exclusively support the funding of recovery housing stipends for individuals. Each week of housing costs between $150 and $175 per person. Your contribution can ensure a safe and supported transition for those on the path to recovery. 

 Interested individuals or organizations can reach out to aroman@weberrenew.org for further details. 

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ABOUT PROJECT WEBER/RENEW

Project Weber/RENEW is a peer-led harm reduction and recovery support organization that operates drop-in centers in Pawtucket and Providence, as well as daily outreach services in Kennedy Plaza in Providence and via street outreach. In 2022, Project Weber/RENEW provided services to 6,000 individuals, including case management, harm reduction supply distribution, support groups, basic needs, linkage to treatment and housing, and HIV/hep C testing and linkage to care. Project Weber/RENEW distributes more than 10,000 doses of Narcan every year.  Find out more about Project Weber/RENEW at weberrenew.org or @weberrenew.