Lucy’s Hearth

What Lucy’s Hearth does

Lucy's Hearth is a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating one of the state's only dedicated emergency and transitional shelters for families and children experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1984 (per the 40th anniversary observed in 2024), the organization runs a 24-hour facility on 2.2 acres at 19 Valley Road in Middletown, Rhode Island, comprising individual family efficiency units with bathrooms and kitchenettes, a commercial kitchen, dining room, TV room, two renovated playgrounds, a learning center, and confidential staff offices. Its core program portfolio includes the Emergency Shelter Program with comprehensive case management, life skills and financial literacy training, parenting classes, housing locator training, and landlord-tenant education; Permanent Supportive Housing delivered through Continuum of Care and Rhode Island Housing partnerships; and an Outreach and Aftercare Program providing up to six months of post-residence support.

The organization operates as an affiliate of Family Service of Rhode Island, which provides HR services, compliance oversight, and adherence to HIPAA and the RICEH HMIS Privacy Policy adopted in September 2021. Technology is limited to off-the-shelf nonprofit operations tooling — HMIS for client data, Neon CRM for donations and donor management, Microsoft Forms for program registrations, Vimeo for program videos, and Amazon Wishlist for in-kind giving — with no proprietary systems or AI capabilities.

Lucy's Hearth is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships at tiers up to $10,000, in-kind goods, signature event revenue (Fall for Lucy's Hearth gala tickets at $135 individual / $250 couples; Annual Designer Wreath Sale; ShelterStock Holiday Concert), the Adopt-A-Family Holiday Giving Program, and recurring government funding from Continuum of Care and Rhode Island Housing for Permanent Supportive Housing. All services are provided at no cost to residents; the organization explicitly does not employ a fee-based pricing model.

Name

Lucy’s Hearth

Legal name

Lucy's Hearth

Website

https://lucyshearth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lucy's Hearth is a Rhode Island nonprofit operating one of the state's only 24-hour emergency and transitional shelters for families and children experiencing homelessness, serving Newport County from a single facility in Middletown with wraparound case management and aftercare.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency & Transitional Housing

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Transitional housing programs
• Family homelessness services
• Case management support
• Social services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Middletown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individual supporters, processed through the organization's website donation portal.
2. Corporate and Business Donations: Sponsorships from businesses at various levels (Keyholder $10,000, Protector $5,000, Motivator $2,500, Inspiration $1,500) for signature fundraising events like Fall for Lucy's Hearth.
3. In-Kind Donations: Donations of goods including Amazon Wishlist items, furniture, clothing, and household items that support shelter operations and families moving into permanent housing.
4. Government Funding: Permanent Supportive Housing funding through Continuum of Care and Rhode Island Housing programs.
5. Holiday Giving Programs: Annual Thanksgiving basket and Christmas gift assistance programs funded by community donors who adopt families or provide gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lucy's Hearth operates a 24-hour emergency and transitional family homeless shelter on a 2.2-acre facility in Middletown, Rhode Island. The shelter provides individual family efficiency units with bathrooms and kitchenettes, along with comprehensive wraparound services including case management, life skills training, financial literacy classes, parenting classes, housing locator training, children's activities and educational support, and permanent supportive housing placement. The organization also runs an outreach and aftercare program providing up to six months of post-residence support to help families avoid future homelessness.

Product overview

Lucy's Hearth is a 24-hour emergency and transitional family homeless shelter in Newport County, Rhode Island, offering a comprehensive portfolio of shelter and support services. The organization operates a core Emergency Shelter Program on 2.2 acres at 19 Valley Road with individual family units, common spaces, playgrounds, and a learning center. Supplementary programs include Permanent Supportive Housing through Continuum of Care partnerships, and an Outreach and Aftercare Program providing up to six months of post-residence support. Fundraising programs include the annual Fall for Lucy's Hearth signature gala, Holiday Giving Program (Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas assistance via Adopt-A-Family), Annual Designer Wreath Sale, and ShelterStock Holiday Concert. Support programs include Volunteer Opportunities, In-Kind Donations (Amazon Wishlist, furniture, CPR4COMPUTERS), and an online donation platform via Neon CRM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Program A 24-hour emergency shelter serving children and families experiencing homelessness in Newport County, Rhode Island. The program provides individual family efficiency units with bathrooms and kitchenettes, common spaces including a commercial kitchen, dining room, TV room, playgrounds, learning center, and confidential staff offices. Families undergo comprehensive assessment, create goals, and engage in self-sufficiency programming including life skills groups, financial literacy, parenting classes, housing locator training, and landlord-tenant education.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Subsidized housing provided through the Continuum of Care and Rhode Island Housing for Lucy's Hearth residents who require long-term stabilization services beyond the emergency shelter period.
• Outreach and Aftercare Program Post-residence support services for up to six months including case management, crisis intervention, budgeting assistance, referrals to community providers, and advocacy to help former residents avoid future homelessness.
• Holiday Giving Program Annual holiday assistance program providing Thanksgiving baskets with non-perishable food items and Christmas gift assistance to current and former residents. The Adopt-A-Family program allows donors to fulfill children's wish lists, with gift cards also accepted for parents to choose presents independently.
• Volunteer Opportunities Year-round and seasonal volunteer opportunities for those wishing to support families on their path to stability and independence. Volunteers working directly with residents are required to complete a background check.
• In-Kind Donations Program Program accepting physical donations including items from an Amazon Wishlist shipped directly to the shelter, furniture and large donations on a case-by-case basis, and computer donations through the CPR4COMPUTERS partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 children and 50 parents served annually with shelter, education, workforce readiness, financial literacy, and housing assistance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness (RICEH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021In September 2021, Lucy’s Hearth adopted RICEH's Privacy Policy for Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS), ensuring compliance with government standards for protecting personal health information of homeless individuals served.
• CPR4COMPUTERScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through which gently used computers are refurbished and donated to Lucy’s Hearth residents, providing essential tools for education, job searches, and staying connected. Donors can contribute their old computers to help families rebuild their lives with greater independence.
• Family Service of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucy’s Hearth is an affiliate of Family Service of Rhode Island. FSRI provides HR services assisting with hiring, adheres to governmental rules and regulations regarding client PHI, and provides overall organizational oversight and support.
• AmazonminorOthersAmazon Wishlist enables donors to purchase and ship items directly to Lucy’s Hearth, providing a quick and simple way to support families without physical drop-offs.
• Continuum of CarecoreOthersFederal housing program providing permanent supportive housing funding and coordination for Lucy’s Hearth residents who require long-term stabilization services.
• Rhode Island HousingcoreOthersState housing authority providing permanent subsidized housing resources for Lucy’s Hearth residents requiring long-term housing assistance beyond emergency shelter.
• Local School DepartmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with local school personnel to support children residing at Lucy’s Hearth, ensuring communication, meeting attendance, and educational support.
• Local Childcare ProvidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with before and after school programs and local childcare providers to support children and ensure continuity of care for families at the shelter.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Covenant House: National nonprofit providing shelter and supportive services for youth and young families experiencing homelessness. Comparable in mission focus on vulnerable families/children and residential shelter plus wraparound support model.
• Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness (RICEH): Statewide coalition whose HMIS privacy policy Lucy's Hearth adopted. Operates as a coordinating body for homeless services across Rhode Island, directly relevant to the shelter and HMIS compliance function.
• Crossroads Rhode Island: Providence-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing, and homelessness prevention services in Rhode Island. Direct competitor in the Rhode Island family and individual shelter space.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit network supporting family homelessness programs through affiliate shelters. Direct comparable in mission, target population (families with children), and community-based service model.
• Family Service of Rhode Island: The parent affiliate organization that provides HR, compliance, and operational oversight to Lucy's Hearth. Directly comparable as a Rhode Island-based family social services and case management provider.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army of Rhode Island: Operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and family support programs in Rhode Island. Comparable as a faith-based emergency services provider with shelter capacity and donor-driven revenue model.
• Catholic Charities of Rhode Island: Regional social services affiliate providing shelter, food assistance, and family support across a broader portfolio. Comparable as a multi-program nonprofit addressing family hardship in Rhode Island.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating family housing, supportive housing, and homeless services programs. Comparable in service model and federal funding reliance, though at significantly larger national scale.

Others

• Rhode Island Housing: State housing finance agency providing subsidized housing resources and a permanent housing funding channel for Lucy's Hearth residents. Functions as a funder/partner rather than competitor, but materially comparable in the housing assistance service space.

Regional players

• Pine Street Inn: Boston-based shelter and housing organization serving homeless individuals and families in Massachusetts. Comparable as a New England regional emergency shelter with wraparound services, though focused on individuals rather than exclusively families.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lucy’s Hearth