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H 8220Benefit Programs

Human Services - Homelessness Employment Program

Creates a pilot program offering paid community cleanup jobs and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
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Introduced Mar 3, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This legislation establishes the "Homelessness Employment Program," a three-year pilot initiative managed by the Executive Office of Housing. The program creates temporary, paid employment opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to work on community beautification projects, such as litter removal, park cleanup, and graffiti removal. Participation is voluntary and designed to be accessible, requiring no permanent address or prior work experience. Participants are guaranteed at least minimum wage and worker protections. The program also aims to connect these individuals with supportive services, including job training, housing navigation, and healthcare referrals. The pilot is set to expire on July 1, 2029.

For younger readers

This new rule creates a special program to help people who do not have a home. It gives them a chance to earn money by doing jobs like cleaning up parks, picking up trash, and fixing up public gardens. They do not need to have had a job before to join. While they are working, the program will also help them find a place to live, get health check-ups, and learn new skills. It is designed to help keep the community clean while helping people get back on their feet.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Individuals experiencing homelessnessExecutive Office of HousingMunicipalitiesNonprofit organizationsTaxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Establishes a low-barrier employment model that acknowledges systemic hurdles, allowing individuals without addresses, IDs, or recent work history to earn income and reintegrate into the workforce with dignity.
  • Mandates that vulnerable participants receive at least the state minimum wage and essential worker protections, preventing the exploitation of homeless individuals for cheap labor.
  • adopts a holistic approach by coupling employment with referrals to vital supportive services, such as housing navigation and behavioral healthcare, addressing root causes of instability rather than just symptoms.
  • The employment provided is explicitly temporary and does not guarantee a transition to permanent, living-wage work, potentially leaving participants facing instability again once the pilot or their term ends.
  • Focuses on "beautification" and cleaning up public spaces, which could be interpreted as requiring the poor to perform menial labor to make areas more palatable for the wealthy in exchange for basic aid.
  • Funding is subject to appropriation and not guaranteed, meaning the program's success relies on the whims of the annual budget process rather than a dedicated, permanent revenue stream.
For Conservatives
  • Promotes a work-first philosophy by requiring individuals to perform labor and contribute to the community in exchange for financial compensation, rather than providing unconditional handouts.
  • Directly improves the quality of life in towns and cities by utilizing this workforce to clean up litter, graffiti, and debris, enhancing public safety and property values.
  • Includes a strict sunset clause, ensuring the program is a temporary pilot that will expire in three years unless proven successful, preventing permanent government bloat.
  • Expands the state bureaucracy by creating a new program within the Executive Office of Housing, which will likely require administrative overhead and taxpayer funding to manage.
  • Mandates minimum wage and benefits for low-skill labor, which may be viewed as an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars compared to competitive contracting for maintenance services.
  • Lacks mandates for drug testing or sobriety as a condition of employment, potentially using public funds to pay individuals who are actively using substances.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 74 additions

SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds and declares:

(1) Homelessness remains a significant challenge affecting individuals and families throughout the State of Rhode Island, creating barriers to stable employment, housing, and self- sufficiency;

(2) Individuals experiencing homelessness are frequently excluded from the workforce due to lack of permanent address, transportation, access to identification documents, or recent work history;

(3) Gainful employment, even on a short-term or transitional basis, can improve self- esteem, provide income, build work history, and serve as a pathway toward long-term housing stability;

(4) Day-labor and transitional employment programs implemented in other jurisdictions have demonstrated success in providing immediate, low-barrier employment opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness while simultaneously improving public spaces;

(5) Beautification, sanitation, and cleanup projects benefit the public health, safety, and quality of life of Rhode Island communities; and

(6) It is in the public interest to establish a pilot program that pairs paid employment for individuals experiencing homelessness with community beautification and cleanup efforts, while connecting participants to supportive services.

SECTION 2. Title 40 of the General Laws entitled "HUMAN SERVICES" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 40-23-1. Establishment of program.

(a) There is hereby established within the executive office of housing, established pursuant to § 42-167-1, in consultation with the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals and other state agencies and departments, a homelessness beautification and employment program (“the program”).

(b) The program shall provide paid, temporary employment opportunities to individuals experiencing homelessness to perform community beautification, sanitation, and cleanup projects including, but not limited to:

(1) Litter and debris removal;

(2) Park, shoreline, and public space cleanup;

(3) Graffiti removal;

(4) Landscaping and beautification projects; and

(5) Other similar projects that improve public property or nonprofit facilities. 40-23-2. Eligibility and participation.

(a) Participation in the program shall be voluntary and open to individuals who:

(1) Are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, as defined by the executive office of housing; and

(2) Are authorized to work in the United States.

(b) The program shall be designed as a low-barrier employment opportunity and shall not require:

(1) A permanent address;

(2) Prior work experience; or

(3) Participation in law enforcement or encampment enforcement actions. 40-23-3. Wages, conditions, and worker protections.

(a) Participants shall be paid an hourly wage not less than the Rhode Island minimum wage.

(b) Participants shall be covered by applicable worker protections, including:

(1) Workers’ compensation coverage;

(2) Workplace safety training; and

(3) Appropriate personal protective equipment.

(c) Employment under the program shall be temporary in nature and shall not create a property right or expectation of continued employment. 40-23-4. Supportive services and workforce development. The executive office of housing may coordinate with state agencies, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development entities to provide participants with access to:

(1) Job readiness training;

(2) Assistance obtaining identification documents;

(3) Referrals to housing navigation services;

(4) Behavioral health and substance use treatment referrals; and

(5) Connections to longer-term employment opportunities. 40-23-5. Municipal and nonprofit partnerships.

(a) The executive office of housing may enter into agreements with:

(1) Municipalities;

(2) State agencies;

(3) Nonprofit organizations; and

(4) Other eligible entities to identify projects, supervise work crews, and administer day- to-day operations of the program.

(b) Priority shall be given to projects that:

(1) Improve public health and safety;

(2) Enhance community appearance; and

(3) Provide visible public benefit. 40-23-6. Duration and reporting.

(a) The program shall initially operate as a three (3) year pilot program commencing July 1, 2026, subject to the appropriation of funds.

(b) No later than December 31 of each year, the executive office of housing shall submit a report to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate that includes:

(1) The number of individuals served;

(2) The number of work hours provided;

(3) Total wages paid;

(4) Types and locations of projects completed;

(5) Referrals to housing and supportive services; and

(6) Recommendations regarding continuation, expansion, or modification of the program. 40-23-7. Funding.

(a) The general assembly may appropriate funds for the implementation and support of the program established by the provisions of this chapter.

(b) In addition to any appropriation by the general assembly pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the executive office of housing shall apply for and accept applicable federal funds, grants, private donations, or other funding sources to support the program. 40-23-8. Sunset. The provisions of this chapter and the program shall sunset and expire on July 1, 2029, unless extended by the general assembly. 40-23-9. Severability. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.