Emergency housing grant
Rent or mortgage paid directly to the landlord or servicer to stop a family losing their home mid treatment.
Helping families since 2005
Treatment is hard enough without losing the apartment
We pay rent, utilities, groceries and gas for families in active cancer treatment. Applications are reviewed weekly and most decisions come back in nine days.
20 yrsin Rhode Island
1,850families helped
$1.4Mgranted last year
9 daysaverage decision
How we help
Money and rides, not advice you did not ask for
We pay vendors directly wherever we can, so the help arrives as a paid bill.
Utility assistance
Electric, gas, water and heating oil paid straight to the provider, once per treatment year.
Grocery and fuel cards
Loaded cards for up to six months of active treatment, no receipts required back.
Rides to treatment
Volunteer drivers to and from infusion and radiation across Rhode Island, booked a week ahead.
Peer support groups
Separate groups for patients and for caregivers, weekly, in person and online, no registration needed.
Care packages
Delivered before the first infusion, with the practical things nobody thinks to buy in advance.
Who we are
Started by two nurses who kept seeing the same problem
Bright Harbor was founded in 2005 by two oncology nurses who watched patients skip treatment because they could not afford the parking, let alone the rent. We are a small local fund, not a chapter of anything national. Eighty three cents of every dollar goes out as direct family assistance.
•Applications reviewed weekly, no waiting list
•We pay landlords and utilities directly
•No requirement to share your medical details beyond treatment status
•Independent local charity, financials posted every year
Reviews
From families we have helped
“They paid our December rent nine days after I applied. I had already packed boxes because I assumed we were moving.”
Danielle M., Pawtucket
“The drivers got my mother to 24 radiation appointments. She never once had to ask me to miss work.”
Joseph C., Caregiver, Warwick
“The caregiver group was the only place I could say the ugly parts out loud.”
Anita F., Support group member
FAQ
Applying for help
Who is eligible?
Anyone in active cancer treatment who lives in Rhode Island or southeastern Massachusetts, with household income under 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Treatment status is confirmed by a short form your treatment center signs.
How long does a decision take?
Applications are reviewed every Wednesday and decisions average nine days. If you have an eviction notice or a shutoff notice, mark it urgent and we will review it out of cycle, usually within 48 hours.
Can I apply more than once?
Yes. Housing and utility grants are available once per treatment year each, and grocery and fuel cards run up to six months. If your treatment extends beyond a year, reapply and we will review it fresh.
Where does the money come from?
Individual donors, a spring walk, and local business sponsorships. We take no government funding, which keeps our decisions fast and our eligibility rules our own. Our audited financials are posted each spring.
Contact
Talk to someone this week
Call or email and a caseworker will walk you through the application. Nothing about your diagnosis is required beyond confirming you are in treatment.
Phone(401) 555-0125
Address270 Westminster Street, Suite 5, Providence, Rhode Island
HoursMon to Fri 9am to 4:30pm
AreaRhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts