In June 2013, TPC opened Joyce House in a renovated six-unit building on River Avenue in Providence that houses 12 homeless or at-risk veterans who are dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse problems. Residents receive support services they need and deserve from The Providence Center and Veterans Affairs for up to two years. The Joyce House was named in memory of the late John Joyce, a homeless advocate and TPC employee of the Home Base program, who passed away earlier this year.

The goal of the program is to help homeless veterans maintain housing by addressing some of the root causes of homelessness including substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and criminal histories. “There is certainly no shortage of referrals,” remarks Gendreau. “I screen people every week and any open units are filled immediately.” Today there are 11 veterans ranging from 25 to 80 years of age residing at Joyce House.

David’s previous experience working with the Home Base program is key in helping him identify resources that homeless veterans need to live full and productive lives. “I am a link to the veterans for services between the VA and TPC,” explained David. If a resident is not qualified, he will connect them to the proper screening staff at the VA to determine their qualifications for services or advise them with services at TPC.

When an individual moves into Joyce House the immediate goal is to stabilize and ensure sobriety—two key factors to successful independent living. Support services aim to improve the veterans overall quality of life through case management, job training, education, counseling and securing permanent housing. The proximity to the VA makes it easier for the residents to attend their support services with the option of taking the bus or, when weather permits, to walk to the VA just down the street.

The Joyce House program is designed to be a peer supportive environment as well as receiving support services from The Providence Center and VA services. Every Thursday, David conducts a peer support meeting providing knowledge, experience, and emotional, social or practical help with the residents. The meeting involves updates and information relating to topics including a self-check-in, introducing new community resources specific to veterans, addressing peer-to-peer concerns and news about services from TPC and the VA. After the group meeting he also meets with each resident individually and schedules office sessions as needed. “Once a month I have a guest speaker join our meetings to bring a fresh perspective on community resources,” explained Gendreau. Past guests have included outreach staff from the VA, Operation Stand Down, an employment trainer from Veterans Inc., and a Vet Corps coordinator from Mayor Angel Taveras’ office.

With David’s support and direction, two Joyce House residents are fully enrolled and two others are close to receiving vouchers to move from the Joyce House to permanent housing. Receiving vouchers this early in the program is rare and is a testament to the commitment and dedication David holds for this program.

Ask any of the residents at Joyce House about David and they will tell you how dedicated, committed and humble he is to everyone. “He always goes above and beyond to help us and is always there when we need him, no matter what time of the day or night it is,” said Associate Director of Home Base and Residential Services Vicki Walters and residents of Joyce House.

Joyce House success stories:

• Three veterans have landed employment as a part-time telemarketer, painter and food service worker. A fourth resident was hired at the VA for CWT (comprehensive work therapy) which is supported work at the VA to build on an individual’s skills and build on income.
• An individual from South County was struggling with medical issues and was having a hard time receiving the medical attention he needed from the VA. Since he began living at Joyce House, with support he received a bus pass and is now able to access the services he needs at the VA.
• Another veteran set one of his treatment goals to re-establish communication with his sister and parents as past family strife tore them apart. Recently, he not only did this, but discovered that for years, his parents live in a building just a few miles from Joyce House. He has since began visiting them and rebuilding the family bond.