Government
Public services and government action
State House homeless encampment served 48-hour eviction notice
On Wednesday morning around 8am members of Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee's staff, backed up by a State Police presence, exited the State House to issue 48-hour eviction notices to the unhoused people camping on the plaza by Smith St...
Community leaders accuse PVD Public Schools of retaliation and discrimination
Reacting to the failed state takeover of Providence Schools and the revelations of racism and retaliation in the Superintendent's office, community leaders call for resignations, investigations and change.
Large group demands Governor McKee keep promise of providing shelter to the unhoused
Over 75 people, many currently experiencing homelessness, gathered at noon outside the second floor offices of Governor Daniel McKee at the Rhode Island State House on Monday to deliver a letter signed by over 600 people demanding that the Governor fulfill his promise to provide shelter beds to anyone who is living outside. As people suffer in below freezing temperatures at more than 80 unsheltered encampments across the state, Governor McKee has not lived up to past promises.
Exclusive: State admits those camping at State House not offered alternative shelter
In a statement that endangered unhoused people, the McKee Administration falsely claimed that every person camping in front of the State House had been offered - and declined - "alternative shelter resources."
EPI's Standard of Need reports key findings on poverty
A new report from the Economic Progress Institute calculates how much money is required for low-income Rhode Islanders to pay for basic expenses including food, housing, healthcare, transportation and childcare.
Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness delivers 2022 address
The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness delivered its first ever State of Homelessness Address in the CIC Providence Building on Dyer Street Monday evening. The event presented and highlighted local and state-wide data on homelessness gathered by Coalition staff and partners.
Growing calls for McKee to shut down inhumane, unconstitutional maximum security prison
In 1977, United States Chief Judge Raymond Pettine issued a legal opinion stating: 'the record here overwhelmingly supports, and no one seriously disputes, the concession that the present Maximum Facility is irremediably obnoxious to constitutional standards and that it must be closed.' Yet the facility remains open.
Demand for bus passes grossly outpaces supply at Mathewson Street Church
Mathewson Street was assigned 50 of the 600 free bus passes that RIPTA is giving out under a new pilot program. All 50 passes were claimed in about two hours, leaving dozens told to go to one of the other ten agencies awarded passes to participate in the new program.
As evictions and housing insecurity rise, Rhode Island announces $166m for affordable housing
The $166 million includes $115 million in funding from the $250 million Governor McKee and the General Assembly have earmarked for housing efforts from the state’s federal ARPA funds.
With winter approaching, Rhode Island falling short on need for shelter beds
Rhode Island has promised around 1097 beds going into the winter. Advocates estimate that the total number of shelter beds needed is 1300, a shortfall of around 203 beds. That shortfall will only get worse, if current trends persist.