Ending Homelessness Through Housing First

Presented By Rhode Island Coalition for The Homeless

This Movement Is Currently
In The Amicus Brief Writing Stage.

Despite being our nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island faces one of its most significant homelessness challenges:

• Shelter system at 157% capacity nightly
• 34% increase in unsheltered homelessness in past 3 years
• Average wait for affordable housing: 2-3 years
• 78% of homeless individuals report untreated health conditions
• Chronic homelessness increased 61% since 2019

Traditional approaches have failed to address root causes. The Housing First model—providing immediate housing without preconditions, then wrapping supportive services around residents—has proven 96% effective at ending chronic homelessness.

OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

🏘️ IMMEDIATE HOUSING ACQUISITION

• Master lease 100 existing housing units
• Purchase and rapidly convert 2 hotels into permanent supportive housing
• Develop 10 small-scale supportive housing sites in high-opportunity neighborhoods
• Create shared housing options for specific populations
• Implement flexible housing subsidy pool

👥 INTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

• On-site case management at 1:15 ratio
• Integrated healthcare services
• Mental health and substance use treatment
• Life skills development
• Employment support
• Community integration activities
• Peer support networks

🤝 SYSTEMS COORDINATION

• Unified intake and assessment system
• Real-time housing inventory database
• Landlord partnership program
• Cross-agency case conferencing
• Data sharing agreements
• Coordinated outreach teams
• Prevention-focused early intervention

📊 LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

• Medicaid billing for supportive services
• Social impact bond financing
• Dedicated housing trust fund revenue
• Employer-supported housing partnerships
• Healthcare partnership funding
• Federal matching fund maximization
• Performance-based contracting

The Evidence Is Clear:

• Housing First participants remain housed at 92% rate after 2 years
• Emergency service utilization decreases by 76%
• Healthcare costs decrease by 59%
• Incarceration rates decrease by 87%
• For every $1 invested, communities save $2.20 in other systems

“After 12 years on the streets, I didn’t think housing was possible for me. The Housing First program took me in—no questions, no requirements—just a home. With that foundation, I’ve been able to address my health issues, reconnect with family, and even start working part-time. I have my dignity back.” – Program Participant

With your support, we can make homelessness in Rhode Island rare, brief, and non-recurring.