PROVIDENCE, RI – Over $15.7 million in federal funding is coming to Rhode Island to help address and end homelessness.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD), today announced $15,726,763 million in federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grants to help state and local agencies provide coordinated services and housing support to Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness.  Reed led the successful effort to secure a $2.6 million increase over 2023’s level of funding.

The federal funds are flowing to Rhode Island as the state completes its annual “Point in Time Count” survey of how many Rhode Islanders are living on the streets and experiencing homelessness.  The annual count, which took place on January 24, was led by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness.  Last year’s survey found over 1,800 Rhode Islanders were experiencing homelessness on a given night.

The federal homeless assistance funds, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), help local nonprofits and community partners deliver safe, affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It will also help renew several projects that develop and implement a coordinated approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness through Rhode Island’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). Additionally, this funding will help launch four new projects to create rapid rehousing programs and expand existing permanent housing programs.

“Homelessness is a complex and pervasive challenge.  Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy that offers people access to stable housing and supportive services.  This federal funding goes a long way toward helping those on the front lines do transformative, life-saving work that helps our most vulnerable neighbors and strengthens our communities.  I am proud to support these outstanding organizations deliver both crisis assistance and wrap around services that put people on the path to self-sufficiency.  It is critical that the federal government steps up to assist so that we can ensure unsheltered people have a roof over their head and the supportive services they need to thrive,” said Senator Reed. “These federal funds are a vital step in ensuring we have rapid rehousing and permanent housing available for individuals, families, youth, and young adults in need.”

The federal CoC grants are coordinated at the state level by RIHousing and jointly administered by non-profits throughout the state. CoC funds are eligible for a variety of homeless assistance activities, including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, coordinated assessment, and other services to help ensure homelessness is a brief and rare experience.

“RIHousing is pleased with the substantial award that the Rhode Island Continuum of Care has secured this year and grateful to Senator Reed’s leadership in bringing these resources to Rhode Island,” said Carol Ventura, CEO of RIHousing. “The investment of over $2 million in new projects that will create more permanent housing opportunities for our most vulnerable Rhode Islanders will be a valuable tool as the CoC continues its important work to end homelessness in our state.”

“Sojourner House is deeply honored to again receive Continuum of Care funding, which will empower us to provide safe and supportive housing for survivors of abuse and their families,” said Vanessa Volz, Executive Director of Sojourner House.  “This generous support strengthens our commitment to fostering healing and resilience as we work together to help those impacted by trauma begin to rebuild their lives.”

“Senator Reed and the entire Rhode Island delegation understand that the only solution for homelessness is housing.  This $15 million federal investment will go a long way to support vital programs that provide individuals and families experiencing homelessness with the support they need,” said Karen Santilli, Crossroads CEO. “Our state’s housing crisis and homelessness challenge requires continued efforts at every level of government to accelerate housing development and expand investments for housing problem-solving programs like those we run at Crossroads. We are so thankful for Senator Reed’s focus on this important work and for playing the leading role in Congress to secure additional dollars to confront Rhode Island's housing crisis.”

“The cornerstone of House of Hope’s mission is the belief that housing is a basic human right. This award will allow us to not only carry out that mission, but affirms that everyone deserves the opportunity to access high quality supportive services,” said Laura Jaworski, Executive Director of House of Hope. “On behalf of House of Hope CDC, thank you for understanding this critical linkage and supporting us in our efforts to end homelessness in Rhode Island.”

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of housing assistance and homelessness prevention initiatives while continually leading efforts in the Senate to increase funding to address the root causes of homelessness. In the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Consolidated Appropriations Act, Reed secured $3.63 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of $420 million above FY22. He also delivered $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program which has helped preserve approximately 1.35 million affordable homes nationwide.

Reed is the author of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which President Obama signed into law to streamline homeless assistance grant programs and increase homelessness prevention resources, empowering communities to more efficiently and strategically provide housing and services to this vulnerable population.

People in need of shelter may call the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness CES help line: (401) 277-4316.

State and local homeless projects that received 2023 federal CoC grants include:

  • Adoption Rhode Island / Adoption Rhode Island YHDP Renewal: $123,073
  • Community Care Alliance / CCA Rapid Rehousing – Adult: $184,050
  • Community Care Alliance / CCA Rapid Rehousing – Youth: $45,397
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH 16: $118,322
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Coordinated Entry: $78,116
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Domestic Violence Coordinated Entry System: $115,000
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Domestic Violence Rapid Rehousing: $231,579
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH Family Housing: $599,887
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH Harold Lewis House: $113,134
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH Mike Terry: $130,439
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH Tower: $33,083
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – PH Tremont: $79,857
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads – Rapid Rehousing – Families: $202,914
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads Tower – Expansion: $236,368
  • East Bay Community Action Program / East Bay Coalition for the Homeless PH: $40,037
  • Family Service of Rhode Island, Inc. / FSRI YHDP BasicCenter: $111,857
  • Foster Forward / Foster Forward YHDP YWH TH-RRH: $167,603
  • Foster Forward / Rapid Rehousing for Former Foster Youth: $228,458
  • Foster Forward / YHDP-YWH Crop-In Center: $71,732
  • Haus of Codec / 330 Cranston Street, Providence: $400,000
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Access to Home: $393,529
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Dean Street Studios: $190,480
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / HYPE Youth Outreach: $76,956
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Rockville Mill: $174,382
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Warwick PSH: $149,792
  • Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket, RI / PAW HA Rapid Rehousing: $136,291
  • Lucy’s Hearth / Lucy’s Hearth New Application: $660,850
  • Lucy’s Hearth / Lucy’s Hearth Renewal PSH: $57,246
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / Coordinated Entry Domestic Violence: $748,482
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / Coordinated Entry: $141,714
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / HMIS: $152,064
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / YHDP HMIS: $83,553
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / YHDP SOAR!: $29,740
  • Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RI-500 CoC Planning: $638,188
  • Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing TBRA: $1,640,734
  • Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation / RIHousing Rental Assistance Program: $2,879,374
  • Sojourner House / Burnside Ave. Permanent Supportive Housing: $120,175
  • Sojourner House / Constitution Hill Permanent Supporting Housing Expansion: $334,197
  • Sojourner House / Constitution Hill Supportive Housing: $151,533
  • Sojourner House / Rapid Rehousing Expansion: $208,790
  • Sojourner House / Rapid Rehousing for Undocumented Victims: $370,534
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House Bridge Rapid Rehousing: $548,388
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House DCYF Rapid Rehousing: $453,992
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House Rapid Rehousing: $976,184
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House YHDP Navigation and Diversion Project for YYAs: $101,067
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House YHDP TH-RRH Projects for YYAs: $338,562
  • Sojourner House / Young Adult Domestic Violence Crisis / Rapid Rehousing: $350,688
  • Westerly Area Rest Meals, Inc. / Greater Westerly Supportive Housing Project: $73,780
  • Youth Pride, Inc. / Youth Pride, Inc.: $167,274
  • YWCA Rhode Island / SFG: $67,318