OpenDoors Helps Save Our Shelters

This year, Rhode Island faced a budget crisis for homelessness services as federal funds allotted during the pandemic expired. The initial state budget projected around a 50% cut to shelter funding. In response, OpenDoors helped lead a campaign to increase this funding, including supporting unhoused individuals to testify on the state budget and co-organizing a statehouse rally.

These efforts helped result in the passage of the Short Term Rental Tax and the Real Estate Conveyance Tax, which are projected to add $4.3 million to the state’s homelessness fund and the reinstatement of funding that prevented almost all shelter closures.

Read more about the rally and see videos in this Channel 12 coverage and in this coverage by Steve Ahlquist.