Opening Doors Rhode Island
An update of the R.I.Plan to
Prevent and End
Homelessness
Opening Doors RI
KEY STATISTICS:
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RI Population 1,052,567
Persons living in Poverty
142,000 (13.5% of RI population; US 14.3%)
Persons living in deep poverty (50% FPL)
61,000 (5.8% of RI population)
Households living in deep poverty
38,000 (9.4% of RI households)
Total homeless persons (annual) HMIS - 4,396 (0.42%)
Total homeless households HMIS - 3,008
(0.75% of all RI households)
Opening Doors RI
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State Issued RFP – Consultant to drive process
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Updated plan will align with “Opening Doors”, the
Federal Strategic Plan
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Focus Areas
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Increase access to stable and affordable housing;
Retool the homeless crisis response system
Increase economic security
Improve health and housing stability
Increase leadership, collaboration and civic engagement
Opening Doors RI
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Steering Committee established (process):
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Government, Providers, Advocates
Stakeholders meetings (content):
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HEARTH/Pending Federal changes
Listening Sessions
Consumer Forum
Online Survey
Opening Doors RI
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Listening Sessions:
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Homeless Crisis Response
Family, Children & Youth
Health & Behavioral Health
Criminal Justice
Workforce and Income
Housing
Consumer Forum
Opening Doors RI
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Increase Access to Stable, Affordable
Housing and Supportive Housing
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Increase the supply of permanent housing
affordable to very low income households
through tenant based rental assistance and new
project development.
Create additional permanent supportive housing
Pursue opportunities to expand rental support
and subsidies
Expand collaboration with PHAs
Opening Doors RI
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Retool Homeless Crisis Response System
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Coordinated intake/assessment
Universal wait list for housing assistance
Service standards
COC Governance (outcome based funding)
Staff training/information share
Cross-sector collaboration
Shelter diversion
Repurpose transitional housing
Opening Doors RI
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Families, Children and Youth
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Create housing opportunities for families
involved with DCYF.
Ensure coordination between agencies
servicing families and young adults
Gather data on young adults
experiencing homelessness
Opening Doors RI
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Increase economic security
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Focus education/job training opportunities
Expand access to mainstream benefits
Improve Health and Housing Stability
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Strengthen behavioral health services for
vulnerable populations
Expand access to primary care
Connect people to benefits and Medicaid
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Supportive Housing Services
Medical home/Medicaid health home model
Opening Doors RI
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Criminal Justice and Reentry
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Examine requirements to expunge records
Work to ensure stable housing and employment upon
release.
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Frequent Users Pilot Program
Existing services
Increase Leadership, Collaboration & Civic
Engagement
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Executive Branch buy-in
Commitment to goals of plan all levels
Public awareness
Clear outcomes to drive performance
Opening Doors RI
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Signature Initiatives
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End Homelessness Among Veterans
Expand Use of Prevention, Division and
Rapid Re-Housing for Families
Prevent Chronic Unemployment and
Homelessness Among Youth
Target Frequent Users of Crisis Services
Opening Doors RI
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Public Comment Period
Adoption by State’s Housing
Resources Commission and
Interagency Council on Homelessness
Implementation already begun
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Governance of COC altered
PHA Involvement
Signature initiatives pursued
Opening Doors RI
Contact:
Michael Tondra
Office of Housing and Community Dev’t
One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor
Providence, R.I. 02908-5873
(401) 222-7901
(401) 222-2083 – Fax
Michael.Tondra@doa.ri.gov