Five Questions With: Laura Jaworski

LAURA JAWORSKI was recently named House of Hope Community Development Corp. executive director, becoming the second person to head the organization since its establishment in 1989. / COURTESY HOUSE OF HOPE
LAURA JAWORSKI was recently named House of Hope Community Development Corp. executive director, becoming the second person to head the organization since its establishment in 1989. / COURTESY HOUSE OF HOPE

In late November, Laura Jaworski was appointed the second-ever executive director of the House of Hope Community Development Corp., a Warwick-based nonprofit affordable-housing developer and homeless-services provider. She joined the organization in January 2014 as the associate director of policy and programs, providing operational support and staffing oversight throughout the organization. Jaworski previously worked at the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.

PBN: What are your goals as the second-ever executive director of the House of Hope Community Development Center?

JAWORSKI: Affordable-housing and homeless-service providers have experienced a major shift in operations, record-keeping and reporting requirements over the past two years. My immediate goals have focused on stabilizing the organization, consolidating programs and streamlining operations wherever possible – all while ensuring the financial stability of the organization. I am also focused on maintaining our strong reputation for quality case management, and not shying away from social justice issues that impact our constituents, including anti-panhandling ordinances.

PBN: Was it difficult to take over for the person who founded the organization?

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JAWORSKI: Absolutely – those are mighty big shoes that I could never fill. Jean Johnson has left an incredible legacy to the city of Warwick and to the homeless and housing-insecure across Rhode Island. I intend to honor her legacy by ensuring that we continue to build local neighborhoods and communities and work collaboratively toward solutions to ending homelessness.

PBN: You were one of three promotions made by House of Hope since late November. Deborah Imondi was named president of the board of directors and William E. Stein sits in the new clinical director of operations seat. In a recent release, you said it would be an honor to “lead this organization into the next phase of our work.” What does that upcoming work involve?

JAWORSKI: I have been fortunate to work alongside a talented group of professionals, both on staff and on the board of directors. We have been working together to focus our growth in limited areas, being mindful of upcoming trends in our sector. This includes seeking out housing-development partnerships, becoming a Medicaid Home Stabilization provider and bolstering our Peer Mentor training program. We will also be operating the Providence Navigation Center, which will be a service-rich walk-in center for those impacted by homelessness.

PBN: Fair House, currently under renovation in Warwick’s Pawtuxet Village neighborhood, will add 10 apartments to the organization’s resources. What is the status of this project?

JAWORSKI: Fair House is in the final phase of construction and is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of February 2017, weather permitting. It has been exciting to watch the transformation of this historic location return to its glory as a beautiful building. Once completed, it will provide affordable housing opportunities for 10 chronically-homeless and disabled individuals. We are hoping for occupancy sometime in the early spring.

PBN: What do you think is the state of nonprofit aid and philanthropy in Rhode Island? Are enough people giving to organizations, [such as] House of Hope, in support of those in need?

JAWORSKI: There are an incredible number of nonprofits, all doing amazing work, in this state. Giving comes in all shapes and sizes – not always in the form of green rectangles – but also by way of donating time, professional skills and talent. I am also a big proponent of connecting at the local level; often people are unaware of the organizations doing great work in their own backyard, or that friends or family may be connected to organizations in meaningful ways. These connections are what build community and bring us together, and in our case, help us to solve homelessness and ensure housing security for all Rhode Islanders.

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