2023 -- H 5818

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LC001819

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE HOUSING

PROBLEM SOLVING FUND

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Giraldo, Morales, Tanzi, Alzate, Cotter,
Cruz, Henries, Hull, and Batista

     Date Introduced: February 22, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, in Rhode Island,

there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available to extremely low-income households;

and

     WHEREAS, Many of these households are severely cost burdened and currently spend

more than half of their income on housing; and

     WHEREAS, Severely cost burdened poor households are more likely than other renters

to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and healthcare in order to pay their rent, and are

more likely to experience unstable housing situations like evictions and homelessness; and

     WHEREAS, According to Crossroads, RI, about 4,000 men, women and children

experience homelessness in Rhode Island each year and this number is significantly increasing;

and

     WHEREAS, “Housing problem-solving” is a person-centered, housing-focused approach

to explore creative, safe, and cost-effective solutions to quickly resolve the housing crisis; and

     WHEREAS, Program recipients could receive case management, rental assistance, other

financial assistance, and other resources to meet their basic needs; and

     WHEREAS, Monies allocated to the “Housing Problem Solving Fund” would fund

supportive services and financial assistance to persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness

and will result in reduction of persons experiencing homelessness and decrease those families

newly experiencing homelessness; and

     WHEREAS, All services and assistance would be tracked in the Homeless Management

Information System (HMIS) (or comparable database if a victim service provider) and referrals

would be made through the State’s Coordinated Entry System (CES) with biannual reports

delivered to the General Assembly; and

     WHEREAS, The definitions of homelessness and at risk of homelessness would follow

the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definitions; and

      WHEREAS, The $5,000,000 would provide $500,000 to be used for administration,

$4,250,000 for service and financial assistance, and $250,000 for other system costs including

program evaluation, HMIS, and CES expenses; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000)

to the Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development to provide for the Housing

Problem Solving Fund; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his

orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from

time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE HOUSING

PROBLEM SOLVING FUND

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $5,000,000 to the Office

of Housing and Community Development to provide funding for the Housing Problem Solving

Fund.

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LC001819

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