| R 193 |
| 2026 -- S 3142 Enacted 03/24/2026 |
| S E N A T 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: Senators Murray, Tikoian, Thompson, Appollonio, Famiglietti, Britto, Raptakis, Mack, Vargas, and Gu |
| Date Introduced: March 24, 2026 |
| WHEREAS, Sojourner House was founded in 1976 by a group of Brown University |
| students and community members concerned about what was then a silent epidemic: domestic |
| violence; and |
| WHEREAS, Sojourner House has operated for 50 years, serving over 60,000 Rhode |
| Islanders; and |
| WHEREAS, Domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking continue to affect |
| individuals and families across Rhode Island, making the work of organizations like Sojourner |
| House vital to the safety and well-being of our communities; and |
| WHEREAS, For fifty years, Sojourner House has been a leader in Rhode Island’s |
| response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, helping tens of thousands of |
| survivors and their families rebuild safe and stable lives; and |
| WHEREAS, Sojourner House today is based in Providence and Woonsocket, and serves |
| communities across the state experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human |
| trafficking, including survivors and their children, providing wraparound services such as support |
| groups, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, sexual health |
| advocacy, and emotional support; and |
| WHEREAS, Through collaboration and partnership statewide with government agencies, |
| nonprofit organizations, and key stakeholders in Rhode Island, Sojourner House works to develop |
| solutions that work for promoting, advancing, and maintaining the safety and well-being of |
| survivors; and |
| WHEREAS, Housing remains the number one barrier for individuals fleeing violence to |
| find safety. Sojourner House has increasingly focused on housing solutions for Rhode Islanders |
| experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking by developing a continuum |
| of housing options, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and |
| permanent supportive housing. The organization has specifically focused on permanent housing |
| options in recent years by purchasing and leasing 197 units statewide allowing for the most |
| effective intervention for survivors and their families transitioning out of dangerous and violent |
| situations; and |
| WHEREAS, Sojourner House has over 70 dedicated staff across 4 offices who are |
| experts on providing trauma-informed support to survivors at every step of the process and are |
| engaged community members that are grounded in the specified needs of survivors in Rhode |
| Island communities; and |
| WHEREAS, Celebrating and recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Sojourner House |
| during this legislative session highlights and honors the legacy and ongoing work of advancing |
| support for domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors in Rhode Island by |
| providing effective housing solutions and trauma-informed wraparound services; now, therefore |
| be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates the 50th |
| Anniversary of Sojourner House of Rhode Island and extends its gratitude and deep appreciation |
| for five decades of service to survivors and families across Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Vanessa Volz, CEO of Sojourner House of |
| Rhode Island. |
| ======== |
| LC006177 |
| ======== |