FROM THE STORY: Just two days after dozens of homeless Rhode Islanders rallied outside the governor’s office, demanding more shelter beds be made available, Governor Dan McKee’s administration announced Wednesday that it would fund a fraction of their request.

McKee’s office said $1.4 million has been administered to fund 77 new emergency shelter beds, bringing the total number of new shelter beds funded this year to 351. With these additions, the state’s housing department expects the statewide shelter capacity to include more than 1,000 operational beds.
The governor said in a statement that expanding shelter capacity will “help ensure we have the resources to support families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness.”
However, advocates have been calling on the administration for months — including during Monday’s rally — to immediately open 500 hotel rooms to provide additional beds for the homeless. It’s similar to what Rhode Island did as part of its emergency shelter plan last year.
“I appreciate that they are expanding the shelter capacity. However, because of the very slow pace of that expansion, we are woefully short of enough beds for those who are living outside and in their cars,” said Eric Hirsch, a Providence College urban sociologist and co-chair of the state’s Homeless Management Information System Steering Committee, to the Globe on Wednesday.

​

READ THE REST OF THE STORY IN THE LINK.

Thanks for the coverage. This is a horrifying situation for folks generally, but especially so for parents who risk having their children taken away. We mobilized hotel rooms for the homeless during covid, I don't understand why we can't do it again as an emergency measure. Especially when the governor is bragging about the $600m+ budget surplus.

> Especially when the governor is bragging about the $600m+ budget surplus

Well because then he wouldn't have a $600m budget surplus.

State money should be spent for the betterment of its citizens rather than hoarded....

You do realize that state money isn't just sitting in box on a shelf doing nothing. The state's money earns interest at the 90-day Treasury Bill rate, the interest rate determined each Monday at an auction of U.S. government securities held in Washington. That interest, currently 4.21%, is added to RI general fund. That almost $27million.

Take a page off Mass and refund some taxes while he’s at it

351 whole beds for literally thousands of homeless. And at best you got a six month wait to maybe possibly qualify for one of those beds. Yaaaay

So save it and let people sleep under bridges?

That is the American way (if by saving it you mean lining government officials pockets)