features - Rhode Island Housing

At Rhode Island Housing, we believe that a home is much more than just four walls and a roof.
A good home provides the foundation upon which individuals and families thrive, children learn and
grow and communities prosper. A good home is where a good life begins. By providing this regular
newsletter of convenient resources, updates and tips, our goal is to help you nurture a safe, healthy
environment for you, your family and your community.
Nurturing a safe, healthy home and community
Family Time
Rhode Island state parks and beaches provide
endless fun for the entire family. Help your kids
stay cool in the hot summer sun by going for a
dip in the ocean at one of Rhode Island’s fantastic
beaches. Season passes for Rhode Island state
beaches and parks cost $60 per family and may
only be purchased at the following locations:
• Charlestown Breachway
• East Beach
• East Matunuck State Beach
• Misquamicut State Beach
• Roger Wheeler State Beach
Summertime Safety
Summertime Safety
Summer is a great time for enjoying water sports, grilling,
picnics, and other fun activities with friends and family.
While engaging in summertime activities, it’s also
important to be mindful of child safety. Take a moment
with your children to discuss the following safety issues
before the swimsuits and sunglasses come out:
Family Time
• Bicycle safety
Around Town
• Insect and snake bites
News You Can Use
• Playground safety strategies
Other Resources
• Poisonous plants
What are the FSS
and Homeownership
Programs?
• Seatbelt safety (whether going on a short
drive or a vacation)
features
Summer 2015
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• Staying safe in the sun
• Stranger safety
• Water safety
• Weather safety issues
follow us on Twitter
@RIHousing
• Salty Brine State Beach
• Scarborough North & South State Beach
Not really the beach type? Then try another fun
outdoor activity: camping. For as little as $14 per
night, you and your family can set up camp at
Burlingame State Park, Charlestown Breachway,
East Beach, Fishermen’s Memorial State Park or
George Washington Campground. Bring your
own food and set up a tent for a night of bonding
around the campfire. Roasted marshmallows
encouraged, but not included! For more information on Rhode Island’s beaches and state parks,
visit www.riparks.com.
44 Washington Street, Providence, RI 02903-1721
401-457-1234
rhodeislandhousing.org
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Nurturing a safe, healthy home and community
Contacts
General information:
Around Town
News You Can Use
Marlene Alves
401-457-1125
Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
Marilyn DaPonte
401-457-1107
Free the first Saturday of every month for Providence
residents; bring proof of residency. For more information,
go to www.rwpzoo.org.
Rhode Island Housing has a new inspection
company: Nan McKay and Associates. For all
inspection-related matters, please call Rhode
Island Housing at 401-429-1460. Most of the
required documents can be accessed by
calling your program representative. Please
call prior to coming in to ensure your items
can be ready for you. A list of program
representatives and their phone numbers can
be found in the sidebar of this newsletter.
Adriana De la Cruz
401-457-1162
Yvette Marquis
401-457-1225
Yhovanna
Monasterios
401-457-1105
Vivian Muriel
401-457-1266
Joycelyn Taylor
401-457-1198
Linda Pujols
401-457-1287
Family Self
Sufficiency and
Homeownership
questions:
Maryrose Mensah
401-457-1106
April through September: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last admission
at 4:30 p.m.)
Free Guided Hike, Camp Yawgoog, 61 Camp Yawgoog Road,
Rockville, RI
June 6, July 11 & August 1, 9 a.m. – noon, free
Experience Yawgoog’s many hiking trails, guided by current
and former staff and members of the Yawgoog Alumni
Association. First-time visitors are welcome. Registration
is required. Email marc.cardin@scouting.org or visit
www.yawgoog.com.
Uncle Buck’s Sugar House, 11 Church Street, Ashaway, RI
Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., free
Come take a tour or see a demonstration of how maple
syrup, maple cream, maple-flavored candy and kettle corn
are made! Call 401-377-2418.
Blackstone River Boat Tour, Central Falls Landing,
Madeira Avenue & Broad Street, Central Falls, RI
Sundays, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy a 45-minute narrated river tour aboard the Blackstone
Valley Explorer. Learn about the history of the Blackstone River
while viewing wildlife along the marsh and river habitat.
Tours start every hour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is
$10 for adults and $8 for children, except the fourth Sunday
of each month, which is free. Call 401-724-2200 or email
keep.bv.beautiful@gmail.com. You can also visit:
www.rivertourblackstone.com.
Farmhouse Storytime, Coggeshall Farm Museum,
1 Colt Drive, Bristol, RI
Every Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., free for members,
regular admission for non-members
Bring the little ones for a cozy storytime around the hearth,
where the folks at Coggeshall Farm will read books and tell
stories from America’s past. BYOP—Bring Your Own Pillow!
Call 401-253-9062 or email info@coggeshallfarm.org for more
information. Visit www.coggeshallfarm.org for directions.
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Other Resources
Volunteer Youth Opportunities at
Red Cross of RI
The Red Cross of Rhode Island offers youth
training for a wide range of volunteer programs,
including disaster response, health & safety
services, international services, services to
armed forces, community service and
leadership development. Children can engage
in everything from babysitter training to raising
awareness and funds for vaccination campaigns.
The organization also provides First Aid, CPR
and water safety classes. For more information,
go to www.redcross.org/ri/youth-programs.
What are the FSS and
Homeownership Programs?
Rhode Island Housing realizes that some families
may be closer to financial independence than
they realize. The Family Self Sufficiency and
Homeownership programs are designed to
work together, or separately, to offer hardworking families guidance and support to help
them gain the skills and experience necessary
to obtain jobs, achieve financial independence
and even buy and keep a home of their own.
Learn more by calling Maryrose Mensah
at 401-457-1106 or email
mmensah@rhodeislandhousing.org.
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