H 8534Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of $850,000 for New Bridges for Haitian Success

Appropriates $850,000 to New Bridges for Haitian Success to acquire residential property for transitional housing for immigrants with TPS and asylum status.

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Introduced May 8, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes an $850,000 appropriation from the state treasury to New Bridges for Haitian Success, a Providence-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The funds are designated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The primary purpose of this funding is to acquire residential property to be used as transitional housing for immigrants holding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum status.

New Bridges for Haitian Success was founded in 2013 to assist the Haitian community in Rhode Island. The organization provides various core services, including immigration system navigation, access to healthcare, housing, employment, food assistance, and adult education programs for English language learning. This specific appropriation aims to expand their capacity to provide stable housing for vulnerable immigrant populations transitioning to life in the United States.

For younger readers

This bill would give $850,000 of state money to a nonprofit group called New Bridges for Haitian Success. The group will use the money to buy a building where immigrants from Haiti and other countries can live temporarily while they get settled in Rhode Island.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Haitian immigrantsImmigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS)Asylum seekersNew Bridges for Haitian SuccessRhode Island taxpayers

Impacted communities

Providence

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. The legislature has broad authority to appropriate funds for public purposes, including grants to nonprofits for housing and social services.

Estimated cost

$850,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Provides essential housing support for vulnerable immigrant and asylum-seeking populations.
Funds a community-based nonprofit with a proven track record of helping marginalized groups.
Addresses the housing crisis by creating dedicated transitional housing.
Supports immigrant integration through a holistic approach that pairs housing with language and employment services.
$850,000 may not be enough to acquire and maintain sufficient housing in the current real estate market.
Relies on a single nonprofit rather than creating a systemic, state-run housing program for immigrants.
Funding is a one-time appropriation rather than a sustained revenue stream for the organization.

For Conservatives

Utilizes a private nonprofit organization rather than expanding government bureaucracy to provide services.
Helps legal immigrants (TPS and asylum status) become self-sufficient and integrate into the workforce.
Transitional housing can reduce the burden on emergency shelters and public resources.
Spends $850,000 of taxpayer money on a specific, narrow demographic rather than general public needs.
Directs state funds to a private organization, which some may view as an unnecessary earmark.
May encourage more migration to the state, potentially straining local resources.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, New Bridges for Haitian Success, located in Providence, Rhode Island is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded by Bernard Georges in 2013, with the primary focus of supporting Haitians navigating their way through a new life in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, New Bridges for Haitian Success works tirelessly to give voice to the concerns, fears, hopes, needs and frustrations of the Haitian community and to build bridges with our elected leaders and the wider community to better serve the needs of the Haitian community; and

WHEREAS, New Bridges for Haitian Success focuses on providing core services to the Haitian community in Rhode Island, to include assisting in navigating the complexities and challenges of the American immigration system, and providing guidance in how to answer questions regarding one’s immigration status, assisting clients in their quest for basic human needs which include access to health care, housing, employment, and food assistance, and by providing adult education programs to help Haitians transition from their native French, Haitian- Creole language to English; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the sum of eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($850,000) for New Bridges for Haitian Success for the purpose of residential property acquisition for transitional housing to support immigrants with temporary protected status (TPS) and asylum status; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $850,0 FOR NEW BRIDGES FOR HAITIAN SUCCESS *** This resolution authorizes the appropriation of $850,000 for New Bridges for Haitian Success for the purpose of residential property acquisition for transitional housing to support immigrants with temporary protected status (TPS) and asylum status, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.