House of Hope named Champion in Action for COVID-19 Relief

House of Hope Community Development Corporation (CDC), a nonprofit working to prevent and end homelessness in Rhode Island, has been named a 2021 Champion in Action® in the category of COVID-19 Relief. The award, announced jointly by Citizens and NBC10, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work.

House of Hope CDC prides themselves on their ability to innovate and “think outside the box.” At the start of the pandemic, House of Hope CDC was contacted directly by the state to provide case management services to those experiencing homelessness facing COVID-19. They successfully ran the Wyndham Hotel Program from April-June where people that tested positive for COVID-19 were placed in a safe environment for recovery. When their “Shower to Empower” program was placed on hold, staff operated out of their vehicles renaming the program “Trunks to Empower” to provide basic hygiene needs, food, hand sanitizer, and case management. This is the second time House of Hope was named a Champion in Action. They previously were a 2003 Champion in the Homelessness category.

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens, the bank’s initiative designed to help local communities prosper. It provides support for nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout Rhode Island.

“We are pleased to announce House of Hope for the second time as our Champion in Action for Covid-19 Relief,” said Barbara Cottam, RI Market Executive at Citizens. “Covid-19 has exacerbated the needs of the homeless in our state. House of Hope has innovated to address these important needs and bring critical services directly to clients.”

”House of Hope has been helping people in Rhode Island for more than 30 years, but 2020 was a year unlike any other,” said Vic Vetters, Vice President and General Manager, NBC 10. “The team’s innovative ways to provide comfort to needy people in a pandemic are remarkable.”To date, the Champions in Action program has awarded more than $9.9 million in contributions and promotional support to 352 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint. In Rhode Island, 56 nonprofits have been honored as Champions in Action, receiving more than $1.5 million.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by Citizens,” said Laura Jaworski MSW, Executive Director at House of Hope CDC. “Early on in the pandemic, COVID-19 was labeled ‘the great equalizer’, but the reality is those experiencing homelessness have already been managing a pandemic of daily survival. This award will allow us to create safe, secure, stable spaces, while addressing the current public health crisis.”

As a Champion in Action, House of Hope CDC will receive:

• A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens;
• Media coverage and public service announcements from NBC 10;
• Volunteer support from Citizens colleagues;
• Public relations and promotional support.

For more information about the Citizens and NBC10 Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community/champions-in-action.aspx