IN THE LIMELIGHT

Providence, RI—Two years after the federal program was established in Rhode Island, the Basic Center Program at Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) will now be able to help even more homeless and runaway youth find emergency shortterm housing through host homes, case management, and basic needs assistance, with the recent announcements of two expansion grants.

The Consolidated Homeless Fund grant of $109,183 over one-year funds a higher daily stipend for licensed Host Homes, and supplies funding for basic necessities during the stabilization processes, such as clothing and toiletries for the youth they serve.

Similarly, the HUD Rhode Island Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grant of $223,713 over two years expands the age range of qualifying youth from 12-17 to also include 18-25-year-olds.

"The age expansion grant for the Basic Center Program is a huge step forward for us, as over the last few years we've received at least 7 referrals for youth who couldn’t be served due to their age," said Candace Johndrow, Vice President of FSRI's Hope Division. "But now, those youth could be served through this expansion."

Licensed and vetted individuals and families who volunteer to be a Host days or less. Until the receipt of the Consolidated Homeless Fund grant, they received a very small stipend to cover the expense of hosting a youth. With the new grant in place, FSRI was able to increase the Host Home stipend, and allow funds for basic necessities, like clothing and toiletries, that youth might need during the stabilization process.

The Basic Center Program is the only one of its kind in Rhode Island, offered by FSRI through funds awarded in a $600,000 HHS federal grant in 2020. The Emergency Youth Center can serve 8-15 youth at a time, with an estimated 130 youth served annually.

FSRI is pleased to offer an alternative to youth who find themselves in

If you haven’t gotten your flu shot by now, you’re late!

Medical experts: Don’t wait another day for your shot SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—If you haven’t gotten your then you missed line set by the for Disease Control Prevention (CDC; https://is.gd/CnSTiP), but it is still recommended to get your flu shot as you will still benefit from it.

Ideally, the CDC recommends that everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October since the flu can begin in earnest at any time beginning in Oc tober and lasting through May, usually peaking from December through Feb ruary.

According to Dr. Armando Paez, chief, Infectious Disease Division (https://is.gd/O7xp1w Health (https://is.gd/lTquMX health care experts are predicting a se vere flu season because of reduced flu immunity of the general population from the low number of flu cases in the