2024 -- S 2918

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LC005217

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,600,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING

FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING NAVIGATION RESOURCES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, and Kallman

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

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     WHEREAS, According to the New England Public Policy Center at the Federal Reserve

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Bank of Boston, Rhode Island saw 3.3 eviction filings per 100 renter households in 2021, the

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highest rate of filings of any state in the region; and

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     WHEREAS, Eviction Lab reports that the eviction filing rate in Rhode Island is more

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than double that of Boston, and the eviction rate in Providence is roughly three times that of

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Boston; and

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     WHEREAS, An initial commitment of $3.1 million supported legal assistance and

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housing navigation resources that assisted in the prevention of evictions and reduced costs

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associated with households entering homelessness; and

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     WHEREAS, The initial appropriation has shown substantial results, and this

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appropriation of $1.6 million would support this work on an ongoing basis; 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 2024-2025 fiscal budget, the sum of one million six hundred

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thousand dollars ($1,600,000) to the Department of Housing to continue support for legal

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assistance and housing navigation resources which will prevent evictions and reduce costs

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associated with households entering homelessness; and the state controller is hereby authorized

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and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so

 

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much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated

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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 $1,600,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING

FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING NAVIGATION RESOURCES

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $1,600,000 to the Rhode

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Island Department of Housing.

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LC005217

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