AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS (Creates a commission to establish homeless shelter standards through regulations.)

H7044

2026 -- H 7044
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

Introduced By:
Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Tanzi, Ajello, Sanchez, Cruz, Potter,
Stewart, Alzate, and Felix

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 34-37.1 of the General Laws entitled "Homeless Bill of Rights" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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34-37.1-7. Homeless shelter standard.

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(a) Findings. The general assembly finds and declares as follows:
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(1) That all homeless persons have the right to homeless shelter services, regardless of their
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political or religious beliefs, immigration status, former geographic location of residence, ethno-
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cultural background, (dis)ability, gender identity, criminal background, and/or sexual orientation;
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(2) That no shelter should charge a fee nor expect and/or require compensation from
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clients/residents for any services rendered;
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(3) That homeless shelters should provide an atmosphere of dignity and respect for all
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shelter residents, and provide services in a non-judgmental manner;
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(4) That shelter residents are capable of moving toward increasing levels of self-reliance
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and self-determination. Shelter staff should work with residents to assist them in achieving their
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goals;
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(5) That homeless shelters should be sensitive to the ethno-specific and linguistic needs of
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residents;
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(6) That service providers need to accept gender identity, as defined by the individual,
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rather than by the perception of staff and/or other residents;
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(7) That protecting the privacy and confidentiality of shelter residents and their personal

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information is of the utmost importance;
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(8) That all people staying in homeless shelters should have access to safe and nutritious
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food;
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(9) That the health and safety of shelter residents, volunteers, and staff, shall be of the
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highest importance in each shelter;
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(10) That issuing service restrictions in the shelter system, must be done only as a last resort
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and in the most serious cases;
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(11) That everyone is entitled to shelter service whether or not they use controlled
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substances and service policies, should not be based on controlled substance use alone, except for
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those shelters operating on an abstinence or recovery model basis;
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(12) That shelter residents should be involved in service provision, program planning,
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development and evaluation, and policy development;
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(13) That homeless shelters, that include children and youth, provide support and activities
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and ensure that the school-related recreation and treatment needs of resident children are met on
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site, through community based services;
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(14) That homeless shelters should afford an opportunity for children and youth with
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developmental and/or physical disabilities, to develop to their full potential within an environment
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where they can interact and socialize with other children;
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(15) That shelters are part of a larger network of homeless services and agencies and
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collaboration within this network is important to ensure effective and coordinated services;
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(16) That notification of shelter closure (either emergency or permanent shelter) should be
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done as soon as the provider is aware of the potential closure and posted in a common area. The
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provider should notify their residents, and the office of housing and community development,
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within the division of planning of the department of administration; and
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(17) That all shelters should utilize the Rhode Island homeless management information
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system (HMIS) database, and make entries in a timely manner.
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(b) The chair of the Rhode Island housing resources commission, shall appoint an eleven
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(11) member committee to draft recommended regulations for homeless shelters and provide
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recommendations, related to the operation of homeless shelters for consideration by the
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commission in preparation of the state's plan for housing, pursuant to the provisions of § 42-128-
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8. The members shall be appointed as follows:
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(1) One homeless or formerly homeless person;
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(2) Two (2) representatives of the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project;
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(3) One representative of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless;

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(4) Two (2) homeless shelter providers operating a shelter for individuals;
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(5) Two (2) homeless shelter providers operating a shelter for families;
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(6) One representative from the Rhode Island office of housing and community
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development;
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(7) One domestic violence shelter provider; and
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(8) One resident or former resident of a domestic violence shelter.
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(c) The committee shall elect a chair or co-chairs from among their membership.
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(d)(1) The committee shall define the characteristics of a homeless shelter, that shall be
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subject to the regulations and standards established by this section.
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(2) The committee shall be charged with making recommendations for the formulation of
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regulations and standards to address the following topics and areas of concern:
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(i) Baseline organizational standards that any agency operating a homeless shelter must
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meet;
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(ii) Access to shelter guidelines, including admission and discharge, bed registration,
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substance use, and service restrictions;
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(iii) Residents' rights and responsibilities, including resident input, complaints and appeals,
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and grievance procedures;
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(iv) Program standards, including the provision of essential services, counseling supports,
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daytime access, confidentiality, sharing of resident information, safeguarding resident files, and
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staff code of conduct;
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(v) Health and safety standards, including basic health and safety protocols, the safeguard
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of, and access to, resident medication, a policy on weapons, and requirements for staff training on
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health and safety issues; and
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(vi) Emergency and winter shelter standards, including the definition of inclement weather
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events, in all seasons, that trigger requirements for homeless shelters to stay open for the protection
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of residents.
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(3) Except to the extent specifically required by statute, no shelter regulation shall deny
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access to, or otherwise impose additional restrictions upon, individuals due to their being subject
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to community notification requirements, nor shall any state or municipal agency request or require
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a shelter to impose any such restrictions.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS
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This act would establish a committee to make recommendations to the Rhode Island
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housing resources commission for their consideration, in preparation of the state's plan for housing
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relating to the operation of homeless shelters.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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