HOUSE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF SOJOURNER HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND

H8343

2026 -- H 8343
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LC006192
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF SOJOURNER
HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Casey, Chippendale, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, J. Brien,
Phillips, Solomon, Ajello, Paplauskas, and Edwards

Date Introduced:
March 24, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House was founded in 1976 by a group of Brown University
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students and community members concerned about what was then a silent epidemic: domestic
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violence; and
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House has operated for 50 years, serving over 60,000 Rhode
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Islanders; and
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WHEREAS, Domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking continue to affect
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individuals and families across Rhode Island, making the work of organizations like Sojourner
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House vital to the safety and well-being of our communities; and
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WHEREAS, For fifty years, Sojourner House has been a leader in Rhode Island’s
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response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, helping tens of thousands of
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survivors and their families rebuild safe and stable lives; and
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House today is based in Providence and Woonsocket, and serves
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communities across the state experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human
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trafficking, including survivors and their children, providing wraparound services such as support
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groups, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, sexual health
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advocacy, and emotional support; and
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WHEREAS, Through collaboration and partnership statewide with government agencies,
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nonprofit organizations, and key stakeholders in Rhode Island, Sojourner House works to develop
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solutions that work for promoting, advancing, and maintaining the safety and well-being of

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survivors; and
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WHEREAS, Housing remains the number one barrier for individuals fleeing violence to
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find safety. Sojourner House has increasingly focused on housing solutions for Rhode Islanders
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experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking by developing a continuum
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of housing options, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and
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permanent supportive housing. The organization has specifically focused on permanent housing
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options in recent years by purchasing and leasing 197 units statewide allowing for the most
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effective intervention for survivors and their families transitioning out of dangerous and violent
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situations; and
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House has over 70 dedicated staff across 4 offices who are
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experts on providing trauma-informed support to survivors at every step of the process and are
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engaged community members that are grounded in the specified needs of survivors in Rhode
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Island communities; and
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WHEREAS, Celebrating and recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Sojourner House
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during this legislative session highlights and honors the legacy and ongoing work of advancing
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support for domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors in Rhode Island by
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providing effective housing solutions and trauma-informed wraparound services; now, therefore
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be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Sojourner House of Rhode Island and extends its gratitude and
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deep appreciation for five decades of service to survivors and families across Rhode Island; and
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be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Vanessa Volz, CEO of Sojourner House of
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Rhode Island.
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LC006192
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