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S 3019Housing

Making an Appropriation of $200,000 to the Housing Network: The Rhode Island Association of Nonprofit Housing Developers, Dba Housing Network of Rhode Island

This resolution appropriates $200,000 to the Housing Network of Rhode Island to support affordable housing and homelessness response initiatives.

Introduced
Population
Affected
35
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 5, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes a state appropriation of $200,000 to the Housing Network of Rhode Island for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding is intended to support the organization's efforts to strengthen community development capacity and enhance coordination across the state's housing and homelessness response systems.

By providing this financial support, the state aims to address the ongoing housing crisis, which is characterized by rising costs, limited affordable housing supply, and increasing homelessness. The Housing Network of Rhode Island will use these funds to support nonprofit housing developers, homeless service providers, and community-based organizations through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives.

For younger readers

This bill gives $200,000 to a group called the Housing Network of Rhode Island. This money will help them work with other groups to build more affordable homes and help people who don't have a place to live.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Nonprofit housing developersHomeless service providersRhode Islanders experiencing housing instabilityTaxpayers

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low, as this is a standard legislative appropriation of state funds to a recognized organization for public purposes.

Estimated cost
$200,000
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly funds initiatives to combat the affordable housing crisis
  • Supports homeless service providers and vulnerable populations
  • Strengthens the capacity of community-based nonprofits
  • Aims to close service gaps for those experiencing housing instability
  • $200,000 is a relatively small amount given the scale of the housing crisis
  • Relies on nonprofit networks rather than creating direct state-run public housing programs
For Conservatives
  • Leverages existing nonprofit networks rather than expanding government bureaucracy
  • Explicitly aims to reduce fragmentation and minimize duplication of services
  • Focuses on improving system coordination and data sharing for better efficiency
  • Increases state spending by $200,000
  • Directs taxpayer money to a private nonprofit organization that engages in advocacy
  • May lack strict, measurable performance metrics tied directly to the funding

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, Rhode Island continues to face a significant housing crisis marked by rising housing costs, limited supply of affordable homes, increasing rates of homelessness, and growing pressure on the community development sector to meet expanding needs; and

WHEREAS, Strengthening the capacity of nonprofit housing developers, homeless service providers, and community-based organizations is essential to expanding housing production, improving system coordination, and ensuring public investments translate into stable housing outcomes for Rhode Islanders; and

WHEREAS, The Housing Network of Rhode Island supports nonprofit housing developers, homeless service providers, municipalities, state agencies, health and human service partners, and funders through strategic partnership development, shared planning, advocacy, and targeted capacity-building initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Enhanced collaboration, coordinated technical assistance, improved data sharing, and aligned funding and performance expectations are necessary to reduce fragmentation, minimize duplication, close service and housing gaps, and improve outcomes for Rhode Islanders experiencing housing instability and homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Enhanced collaboration, coordinated technical assistance, improved data sharing, and aligned funding and performance expectations are necessary to reduce fragmentation, minimize duplication, close service and housing gaps, and improve outcomes for Rhode Islanders experiencing housing instability and homelessness; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) to the Housing Network of Rhode Island to assist its efforts to strengthen community development capacity, enhance coordination across the housing and homelessness response system, and improve housing outcomes statewide; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the 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 $200,0 TO THE HOUSING NETWORK: THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS, DBA HOUSING NETWORK OF RHODE ISLAND *** This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $ 200,000 to the Housing Network of Rhode Island.