JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE ISLAND (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.)

S2848

2026 -- S 2848
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LC005649
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE
ISLAND

Introduced By:
Senators Murray, Thompson, Gu, Urso, DiMario, Mack, Euer, Gallo,
Lauria, and Ujifusa

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
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WHEREAS, Domestic abuse and sexual violence are public health issues of epidemic
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proportions in Rhode Island and throughout the United States, affecting approximately one in
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four women and one in seven men, with rates even higher among the LGBTQ+ population,
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underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, and people with disabilities; and
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WHEREAS, The absence of safe, secure, affordable housing is one of the largest barriers
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for individuals who are experiencing abuse to flee from domestic and sexual violence where
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nearly all also face economic abuse; and
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WHEREAS, Half of all women who are homeless report being homeless as a direct result
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of domestic violence and nearly all homeless women face sexual and/or physical violence; and
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WHEREAS, The development of affordable housing in Rhode Island continues to lag
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behind the need for such resources; and
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WHEREAS, The development of programs that provide safe, affordable, confidential
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housing to victims of abuse while joined with supportive services are still scarce, even at the
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national level; and
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WHEREAS, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has
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attempted to decrease funding for supportive housing and impose more stringent qualifications
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for those seeking housing support; and
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WHEREAS, The revisions and suspension of funds previously allocated to supportive
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housing could leave more than 1,000 Rhode Islanders currently in supportive housing at risk of

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homelessness and more vulnerable due to pushes for economically unsustainable housing
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programs; and
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House in Rhode Island has developed a robust permanent
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supportive housing program that provides critical, life-saving interventions to families who have
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experienced abuse, and provides them with the support to rebuild their lives, including over 150
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units that are available in 33 cities and towns statewide; and
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WHEREAS, Sojourner House seeks a partnership with the State of Rhode Island to
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secure matching funds for federal grants, ensuring continued support for permanent housing for
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abuse victims in Rhode Island; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars
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($500,000) to support Sojourner House’s permanent supportive housing development program
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including, but not limited to, the acquisition and rehabilitation of residential buildings that will
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provide safe, secure housing to individuals and families who are fleeing from dangerous
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situations to rebuild their lives; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw
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his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from
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time to time be 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 $500,000 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE
ISLAND
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This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner
2
House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing
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to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.
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LC005649
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