Rhode Island must expand shelter options immediately to end homelessness in Rhode Island. We call on Governor Mckee, Senate President Ruggiero, and House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi to invest the necessary funds to expand shelters options enough that no Rhode Islander has to sleep outside.

As reported in the Providence Journal on February 8th, 436 people were unsheltered at the start of this winter. According to this article, Shanelle Saraceno had to live in a parking lot for months and is six months pregnant, but even though she and homelessness providers are doing everything they can, she still had to sleep on the street. Pregnant women, families with young children, and sick and disabled people are being forced to live outside in freezing cold temperatures. Our state has to do better.

Over the last year, Rhode Island has shown that progress is possible. Hundreds of new shelter beds have been opened at locations such as the Amos House family shelter at Charlesgate in Providence , the OpenDoors shelter at Motel 6 in Warwick, and the Community Care Alliance SureStay Hotel Shelter in North Smithfield. Ultimately, the goal is to expand permanent, affordable housing options and build hundreds of more low-income units, however until that happens, we need more shelter beds. Despite the progress over the last year, there are still far too many people sleeping on the streets. We must continue to invest in expanded shelter options immediately.