PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to help coordinate housing and supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness across Rhode Island, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD), today announced $17,339,800 in federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grants for Rhode Island homeless assistance programs. 

The federal funds are flowing to Rhode Island as the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to grow. 2,442 Rhode Islanders were identified during the January 2024 “Point in Time Count” survey as lacking stable and adequate housing. This is an increase of about 35 percent compared to 2023. The annual count, which takes place every January, was led by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness. 

The federal homeless assistance funds, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), help local nonprofits and community partners deliver safe, affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It will also help renew several projects that develop and implement a coordinated approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness through Rhode Island’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP).

“Everyone deserves a safe, healthy, and warm place to call home. We must continue our work to ensure that Rhode Islanders who are experiencing homelessness have easy access to comprehensive, effective services that help to break the cycle of poverty and offer pathways to supportive, stable housing.  This federal funding goes a long way toward helping those on the front lines do transformative, life-saving work that helps our most vulnerable neighbors and strengthens our communities.  I am proud to support these organizations in delivering both housing and wraparound services that provide individuals, families, youth, and young adults the platform and support they need to thrive,” said Senator Reed.

The federal CoC grants are coordinated at the state level by RIHousing and administered by non-profits throughout the state. CoC funds are eligible for a variety of homeless assistance activities, including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, coordinated entry systems, and other services to help ensure homelessness is a brief and rare experience.

“RIHousing is proud to receive additional funding for our Continuum of Care program alongside non-profit housing and services providers working throughout our state to end homelessness,” said Carol Ventura, CEO & Executive Director of RIHousing. “We thank Senator Reed for his tireless work to bring home these federal resources and look forward to continuing to work with our partners and other stakeholders to assist vulnerable Rhode Islanders.”

“Senator Reed has long been a champion for those most in need in our community,” said Michelle Wilcox, president and CEO, Crossroads Rhode Island. “With homelessness reaching record levels both in Rhode Island and across the nation, Crossroads Rhode Island is extremely grateful to receive this critical funding, which is needed now more than ever. CoC grants are foundational to our ability to continue to provide safe and affordable housing and supportive services to the more than two thousand people who are experiencing homelessness in our state right now.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Reed and the entire Rhode Island delegation for their continued advocacy and unwavering support for critical housing initiatives. This federal funding ensures that Sojourner House can continue providing life-saving services and stable housing for individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. At a time when homelessness is on the rise, these resources are essential to helping us break the cycle of abuse and trauma for Rhode Islanders in need,” said Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House.

“House of Hope affirms that housing is a basic human right. This critical funding affirms that everyone deserves the opportunity to access housing, with the added benefit of high quality supportive services,” said Laura Jaworski, Executive Director of House of Hope.  “On behalf of House of Hope CDC, thank you for understanding this essential linkage and supporting us in our efforts to end homelessness in Rhode Island.”

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of housing assistance and homelessness prevention initiatives while continually leading efforts in the Senate to increase funding to address the root causes of homelessness. In the fiscal year 2024 (FY23) appropriations bill, Reed secured $4.1 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of $418 million above FY23. He also delivered $1.3 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program which has helped preserve approximately 1.35 million affordable homes nationwide.

Reed authored the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which President Obama signed into law to streamline homeless assistance grant programs and increase homelessness prevention resources, empowering communities to more efficiently and strategically provide housing and services to this vulnerable population.

People in need of shelter may call the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness CES help line: (401) 277-4316.

State and local homeless projects that received 2025 federal CoC grants include:

  • Family Service of Rhode Island, Inc. / FSRI YHDP BasicCenter Expansion Renewal: $123,043
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads - Permanent Supportive Housing: $1,166,423
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads - Rapid Rehousing Program: $487,804
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads - CES - Housing Problem Solving: $212,321
  • Crossroads Rhode Island / Crossroads - Tower – Expansion: $296,751
  • Foster Forward / YHDP-YWH Drop-in Center Renewal: $78,905
  • Foster Forward / Foster Forward - YHDP- YWH-TH-RRH Renewal: $183,780
  • Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation  / RIHousing Rental Assistance Program: $4,964,705
  • Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation  / RI-500 CoC Planning Application: $754,429
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / YDHP HMIS Renewal: $92,119
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / YHDP SOAR! Renewal: $32,820
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / Coordinated Entry Renewal: $156,203
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / Coordinated Entry DV Renewal: $826,320          
  • Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness / HMIS Renewal: $167,697
  • Sojourner House / Constitution Hill Supportive Housing Renewal: $538,682
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House Bridge Rapid Rehousing Renewal: $599,622
  • Sojourner House / Burnside Ave Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal: $133,045
  • Sojourner House / Young Adult Domestic Violence Crisis/Rapid Rehousing Renewal: $388,293
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House DCYF Rapid Rehousing Renewal: $501,386
  • Sojourner House / Rapid Rehousing for Undocumented Victims Renewal: $416,619
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House Rapid Re-Housing Renewal: $1,325,081
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House YHDP Navigation and Diversion Project for YYAs Renewal: $110,899
  • Sojourner House / Sojourner House YHDP TH-RRH Project for YYAs Renewal: $365,456
  • Community Care Alliance / CCA RRH Adult Renewal Project: $207,732
  • Community Care Alliance / CCA RRH Youth Renewal Project: $50,432
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / HYPE Youth Outreach: $84,652
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Warwick PSH- Renewal: $167,151
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Dean Street Studios- Renewal: $209,528
  • House of Hope Community Development Corporation / Access to Home- Renewal: $438,457
  • Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket, RI, The / PAW HA RRH Renewal: $147,415
  • Westerly Area Rest Meals Inc. / Rockville Mill: $189,025
  • Westerly Area Rest Meals Inc. / Greater Westerly Supportive Housing Project Renewal: $83,315
  • Lucy's Hearth / LH Renewal PSH Program: $796,968        
  • Adoption Rhode Island / Adoption Rhode Island YHDP Renewal: $135,380
  • East Bay Community Action Program / East Bay Coalition for the Homeless PH: $44,828
  • Foster Forward / RRH for Former Foster Youth Renewal: $258,744
  • Haus of Codec / Haus of Codec YHDP TH/RH: $420,510
  • Youth Pride, Inc. / Youth Pride, Inc.: $183,260