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H 7324Funding & Budget

H7324 - Rhode Island 2026

Appropriates $500,000 to Sojourner House to support permanent housing programs for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This resolution authorizes a $500,000 appropriation from the Rhode Island general treasury for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Sojourner House. The funds are specifically designated to support the organization's permanent supportive housing development program, which provides critical interventions for families and individuals who have experienced abuse. By partnering with the state, Sojourner House intends to use these funds to secure matching federal grants, thereby ensuring continued and expanded support for permanent housing solutions for abuse victims throughout Rhode Island.

The appropriated money will be directed toward the acquisition and rehabilitation of residential buildings. These facilities are designed to provide safe, secure, and confidential housing for individuals and families fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence. The legislation highlights that domestic violence is a public health epidemic that disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ population, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and people with disabilities. Furthermore, it emphasizes that the lack of affordable housing remains one of the most significant barriers for victims attempting to escape dangerous environments, often leading directly to homelessness.

By financially supporting Sojourner House, the state aims to mitigate the impact of potential federal funding cuts from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The resolution notes that recent federal shifts toward economically sustainable housing models could leave over 1,000 Rhode Islanders at risk of homelessness. This state-level appropriation seeks to bridge that gap, allowing Sojourner House to maintain and expand its network of over 150 units across 33 municipalities, ultimately helping vulnerable populations rebuild their lives in a secure environment.

For younger readers

This bill gives $500,000 to a group called Sojourner House. The money will be used to buy and fix up homes so that people and families escaping abuse have a safe place to live.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Victims of domestic abuse and sexual violenceSojourner House staff and clientsRhode Island taxpayersHomeless individuals

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. The legislature has standard constitutional authority to appropriate funds from the general treasury for public purposes.

Estimated cost
$500,000
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly supports victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence by providing safe housing.
  • Addresses the intersection of homelessness and domestic violence.
  • Specifically acknowledges and supports marginalized groups disproportionately affected by abuse, including LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities, and people with disabilities.
  • Helps secure federal matching grants, maximizing resources for social safety nets.
  • $500,000 may be seen as insufficient given the massive scale of the housing and domestic violence crises.
  • Relies on a one-time appropriation rather than establishing sustained, recurring state funding for supportive housing.
  • Outsources public health and housing responsibilities to a non-profit organization rather than creating permanent public housing.
For Conservatives
  • Leverages state funds to secure federal matching grants, providing a strong return on investment for taxpayers.
  • Partners with an established private non-profit organization rather than expanding state government bureaucracy.
  • Helps vulnerable families rebuild their lives and achieve independence, potentially reducing long-term reliance on state welfare programs.
  • Increases state spending by $500,000.
  • Directs taxpayer money to a specific private non-profit organization rather than utilizing a competitive grant process.
  • May be viewed as subsidizing housing programs that the federal government has flagged as economically unsustainable.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, Domestic abuse and sexual violence are public health issues of epidemic proportions in Rhode Island and throughout the United States, affecting approximately one in four women and one in seven men, with rates even higher among the LGBTQ+ population, underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, and people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The absence of safe, secure, affordable housing is one of the largest barriers for individuals who are experiencing abuse to flee from domestic and sexual violence where nearly all also face economic abuse; and

WHEREAS, Half of all women who are homeless report being homeless as a direct result of domestic violence and nearly all homeless women face sexual and/or physical violence; and

WHEREAS, The development of affordable housing in Rhode Island continues to lag behind the need for such resources; and

WHEREAS, The development of programs that provide safe, affordable, confidential housing to victims of abuse while joined with supportive services are still scarce, even at the national level; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has attempted to decrease funding for supportive housing and impose more stringent qualifications for those seeking housing support; and

WHEREAS, The revisions and suspension of funds previously allocated to supportive housing could leave more than 1,0 Rhode Islanders currently in supportive housing at risk of homelessness and more vulnerable due to pushes for economically unsustainable housing programs; and

WHEREAS, Sojourner House in Rhode Island has developed a robust permanent supportive housing program that provides critical, life-saving interventions to families who have experienced abuse, and provides them with the support to rebuild their lives, including over 150 units that are available in 33 cities and towns statewide; and

WHEREAS, Sojourner House seeks a partnership with the State of Rhode Island to secure matching funds for federal grants, ensuring continued support for permanent housing for abuse victims in Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to support Sojourner House’s permanent supportive housing development program including, but not limited to, the acquisition and rehabilitation of residential buildings that will provide safe, secure housing to individuals and families who are fleeing from dangerous situations to rebuild their lives; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time be required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,0 TO SOJOURNER HOUSE IN RHODE ISLAND *** This resolution would authorize 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.