Five Questions With: Diana D. Burdett

"Our long-term goal is to put ourselves out of business, but that is not likely to happen."

Diana D. Burdett has been executive director of the Providence In-town Churches Association since 2003, overseeing five programs areas, grant-writing and case management. She also was a past president of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless from 2005 to 2008. Here she discusses PICA’s long-term goals and value to the community.

PBN: You’ve been leading PICA for more than a decade. Heading towards 2020, what are the organization’s long-term goals?
BURDETT:
Our long-term goal is to put ourselves out of business, but that is not likely to happen.
There is an achievable plan to end homelessness in Rhode Island, but new people keep coming into the system and more government funds are needed to provide the necessary supports. Until minimum wages become living wages, people will need to access food pantries.
Our five-year plan would be to build upon the services we already provide. We serve more than 15,000 people a month with a part time staff, so another goal would be to become full time.

PBN: Of the five programs you offer, which one is most critical?
BURDETT:
PICA’s programs, two of which serve low income people who are housed, and three of which serve the homeless population, are all critical. Without the food security provided by the pantries, many people have to choose between paying rent or utilities and food. Stretching budgets with free food helps people maintain housing as well as having nutritious food for their families. The compassionate, client-centered case management in the homeless programs offers people a new life: housing, access to health care, jobs and basic needs.

PBN: When and why was the SOAR program, which helps people access social security benefits more quickly, added and how has it helped?
BURDETT:
The SOAR program was established in 2010 after I attended a training in SOAR (Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance Outreach and Access to Recovery). We saw the value in having our chronically homeless, disabled guests obtain SSI benefits in four to six months rather than two to three years. It is very labor intensive, so it deals with a small number of people, but is life altering. Once benefits are received, guests are eligible for subsidized housing, have a monthly income and a chance for a new life.

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PBN: You said you serve more than 15,000 people a month. Is this number trending up or down, and why?
BURDETT:
The numbers are trending up. For example, the Downtown Food Pantry went from serving 500 people a month in 2009 to nearly 8,000 people a month in 2014. We acquired the Olneyville Food Center in 2013 and those numbers have risen from 3,500 to over 6,000 a month. The numbers for the Homeless Outreach program have nearly doubled. Our guests and other agencies refer people to us, for our holistic care, and more people are coming to us for services.

PBN: Where do you draw volunteers from and how many help further the mission?
BURDETT
: PICA’s volunteers come from many different sources. Our Board members, who work diligently to further the mission, are recruited from the community and member churches. The many volunteers who assist at the meal site and two food pantries are individuals, youth groups, corporations such as Hasbro, and people who have to do court ordered community service.

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