Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5323 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5	2025 -- H 5323
6	6	========
7	7	LC001176
8	8	========
9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
15	15	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE
16	16	ISLAND
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Ajello, J. Brien, Kislak, Phillips, Cruz, Potter, J.
18	18	Lombardi, Shallcross Smith, and Corvese
19	19	Date Introduced: February 05, 2025
20	20	Referred To: House Finance
21	21
22	22
23	23	WHEREAS, Domestic abuse and sexual violence are public health issues of epidemic 1
24	24	proportions in Rhode Island and throughout the United States, affecting approximately one in 2
25	25	four women and one in seven men, with rates comparable or even higher among the LGBTQ+ 3
26	26	population; and 4
27	27	WHEREAS, The absence of safe, secure, affordable housing is one of the largest barriers 5
28	28	for individuals who are experiencing abuse to flee from a dangerous situation; and 6
29	29	WHEREAS, The development of affordable housing in Rhode Island continues to lag 7
30	30	behind the need for such resources; and 8
31	31	WHEREAS, The development of programs that provide safe, affordable, confidential 9
32	32	housing to victims of abuse while joined with supportive services are still scarce, even at the 10
33	33	national level; and 11
34	34	WHEREAS, Sojourner House in Rhode Island has developed a robust permanent 12
35	35	supportive housing program that provides critical, life-saving interventions to families who have 13
36	36	experienced abuse, and provides them with the support to rebuild their lives, including over 150 14
37	37	units that are available in 33 cities and towns statewide; and 15
38	38	WHEREAS, Sojourner House serves almost 2,000 unduplicated clients a year throughout 16
39	39	their programs, but the demand for services far exceeds their ability to meet the need; and 17
40	40	WHEREAS, Sojourner House brings in approximately $10,000,000 in federal grants to 18
41	41	support its work and these grants require local matching funds; and 19
42	42
43	43
44	44	LC001176 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	WHERAS, Sojourner House seeks a partnership with the State of Rhode Island to secure 1
46	46	matching funds for federal grants, ensuring continued support for permanent housing for abuse 2
47	47	victims in Rhode Island; now, therefore be it 3
48	48	RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 4
49	49	otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars 5
50	50	($500,000) to support Sojourner House’s permanent supportive housing development program, 6
51	51	including, but not limited to, the acquisition and rehabilitation of residential buildings that will 7
52	52	provide safe, secure housing to individuals and families who are fleeing from dangerous 8
53	53	situations to rebuild their lives; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw 9
54	54	his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from 10
55	55	time to time be required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. 11
56	56	========
57	57	LC001176
58	58	========
59	59
60	60
61	61	LC001176 - Page 3 of 3
62	62	EXPLANATION
63	63	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
64	64	OF
65	65	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
66	66	MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $500,000 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE
67	67	ISLAND
68	68	***
69	69	This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner 1
70	70	House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing 2
71	71	to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations. 3
72	72	========
73	73	LC001176
74	74	========