List of local homeless liaison contacts The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires that states identify homeless children and provide them with transportation and other services needed to help them succeed in school. Each school district has an assigned homeless liaison to help parents access needed services for their children. Please click on this link for a list of Rhode Island homeless liaison contact.
Rhode Island Lawmakers Pass Homeless Bill of Rights The General Assembly passed the first of its kind Homeless Bill of Rights in the nation, providing that no one should face discrimination because they are homeless. The bill protects an individual’s right to use public spaces, equal treatment by state agencies, seek and maintain employment, access emergency medical care, vote, confidentiality of private records and privacy of personal property. Click to read the Senate and House versions of the bill.
Foreclosure and Its Impact on Children First Focus released a new report, The Ongoing Impact of Foreclosure on Children, that analyzed foreclosures in all states and the District of Columbia and found that 9% of Rhode Island children have been affected by foreclosure. Housing disruptions due to foreclosure affect children’s health, interrupt development, and hurt children’s chances of success in school. First Focus, also released a companion set of policy recommendations to protect children from the harmful effects of foreclosure.
New Report Shows RI's Rental Housing Costs Remain High The National Low Income Housing Coalition's latest report - Out Of Reach 2012 - shows that rental costs remain high in Rhode Island. According to the report, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in Rhode Island is $924. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $3,081 monthly or $36,974 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $17.78.
New report finds Rhode Island is one of the most cost-burdened housing markets in the U.S. A national study released by the Washington-based Center for Housing Policy shows Rhode Island as one of the most severely cost burdened housing markets in the country. The report, titled Housing Landscape 2012, provides an in-depth look at housing affordability trends for working households between 2008 and 2010 focusing on the relationship between employment, income, and housing costs. In Rhode Island, the report shows that 26 percent of working families are spending more than 50 percent of their incomes on housing costs, including mortgage or rent payments, insurance, and utilities.
New Report on Food Aid and Homlessness Released Amid deepening economic woes, a growing number of Providence residents are struggling to put food on the table, says a survey by U.S. mayors. A new report released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors says requests for emergency food assistance increased by 6 percent in Providence during the period between September 2010 and August 2011.
HousingWorks RI releases annual fact book on housing in RI The 2011 Fact Book features the overwhelming success of the state’s housing bond, also known as Building Homes Rhode Island (BHRI), and points to the continuing need for long-term affordable housing in Rhode Island. According to the report, a household earning the state’s median household income of $54,119 would only be able to afford a median-priced single-family home in just nine of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns in the second quarter of 2011. This number is three communities fewer than in the second quarter of 2010.
Families in Homeless Shelters Increased 7% in '09 USA Today reports that the the recession continued to take its toll as more families with children became homeless for the second straight year, according to a U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development report. The number of families in homeless shelters increased 7% to 170,129 from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2009.
The Recession and Housing Stability First Focus has released a series of reports that synthesize the evidence on the effects of the recent and prior recessions on child well-being.One of these reports focuses on the impact that inadequate or insecure housing has on a child’s well-being.The report looks at the foreclosure crisis, the increasing number of families who cannot afford rent, and the recent rise in homelessness among families and offers policy recommendations.
New Brief on Homeless Children and Youth in U.S. Schools A Critical Moment: Child & Youth Homelessness in Our Nation's Schools, a new brief from First Focus and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, summarizes recent federal data as well as findings from a national survey of school districts and state departments of education. Analysis in the brief of recently released federal data shows that the number of homeless children and youth identified in public schools has increased for the second year in a row, and by 41% over the past two school years. The economic downturn was cited most frequently as the reason for increases in child and youth homelessness, followed by greater school and community awareness of homelessness, and the foreclosure crisis.
New Report Outlines Research on Homeless Children The Urban Institute report, Residential Instability and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Education Program: What We Know, Plus Gaps in Research, describes the goals of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, summarizes previous research, and outlines future research topics of concern to policymakers, including how to improve the identification of homeless students, what types of services are offered to children, how school administrators implement the program, and testing how well the program lifts academic results.
National Low-Income Housing Coalition Annual Report Released The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has released its annual report, Out of Reach, which highlights data from each state and shows that low-wage workers continue to struggle to afford rental housing. The cost of rent in Rhode Island continues to be high, currently 15th highest in the country. From 2000 to 2010, the average cost of rent in Rhode Island increased by 66%, more than in any other state except Hawaii. Download Out of Reach.
Extending Care Beyond Age 18 for Foster Youth Finding a safe, affordable place to live for youth who "age out" of foster care is a major challenge for former foster youth. A report from the University of Chicago's Chapin Hall examined how common homelessness among young people is in making the transition from foster care to adulthood, how soon homelessness typically occurs, and whether allowing youth to remain in care until age 21 reduces homelessness. Read these and more findings in Assessing the Impact of Extending Care beyond age 18 on Homelessness: Emerging Findings from the Midwest Study.
HousingWorks RI Issue Brief: Neighborhood Opportunities Program HousingWorks RI has released an Issue Brief on the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP), in celebration of the program's 10th anniversary. NOP is a unique, state-funded program designed to provide homes for low-wage working families and individuals with disabilities. The program provides funds to cover the difference between the rental cost affordable to very low-wage Rhode Islanders and the cost to owners operating the rental unit. NOP allows rents to be set at a level affordable for renters and sustainable for owners. Funding for NOP has been threatened in the most recent FY-2011 Budget Proposal.
Healthy Housing Presentation Now Available View a presentation on Healthy Housing, the newest indicator in the 2009 Factbook, prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. Topics and data covered within the presentation include housing's impact on child health conditions such as asthma, lead poisoning, and unintentional injuries. Also covered is housing cost and accessibility. View the presentation here.
Foreclosure and Its Impact on Children
New Report Shows RI's Rental Housing Costs Remain High
HousingWorks RI releases annual fact book on housing in RI
Families in Homeless Shelters Increased 7% in '09 
New Report Outlines Research on Homeless Children
National Low-Income Housing Coalition Annual Report Released
Extending Care Beyond Age 18 for Foster Youth
HousingWorks RI Issue Brief: Neighborhood Opportunities Program
Healthy Housing Presentation Now Available
