1. Opening Doors Rhode Island
An update of the R.I.Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

2. Opening Doors RI KEY STATISTICS: 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)

3. Opening Doors RI State Issued RFP – Consultant to drive process
Updated plan will align with “Opening Doors”, the Federal Strategic Plan
Focus Areas
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

4. Opening Doors RI Steering Committee established (process):
Government, Providers, Advocates
Stakeholders meetings (content):
HEARTH/Pending Federal changes
Listening Sessions
Consumer Forum
Online Survey

5. Opening Doors RI Listening Sessions: Homeless Crisis Response
Family, Children & Youth
Health & Behavioral Health
Criminal Justice
Workforce and Income
Housing
Consumer Forum

6. Opening Doors RI
Increase Access to Stable, Affordable Housing and Supportive Housing
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

7. Opening Doors RI Retool Homeless Crisis Response System
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

8. Opening Doors RI Families, Children and Youth
Create housing opportunities for families involved with DCYF.
Ensure coordination between agencies servicing families and young adults
Gather data on young adults experiencing homelessness

9. Opening Doors RI Increase economic security
Focus education/job training opportunities
Expand access to mainstream benefits
Improve Health and Housing Stability
Strengthen behavioral health services for vulnerable populations
Expand access to primary care
Connect people to benefits and Medicaid
Supportive Housing Services
Medical home/Medicaid health home model

10. Opening Doors RI Criminal Justice and Reentry
Examine requirements to expunge records
Work to ensure stable housing and employment upon release.
Frequent Users Pilot Program
Existing services
Increase Leadership, Collaboration & Civic Engagement
Executive Branch buy-in
Commitment to goals of plan all levels
Public awareness
Clear outcomes to drive performance

11. Opening Doors RI Signature Initiatives 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

12. Opening Doors RI Public Comment Period
Adoption by State’s Housing Resources Commission and Interagency Council on Homelessness
Implementation already begun
Governance of COC altered
PHA Involvement
Signature initiatives pursued

13. Opening Doors RI Contact: Michael Tondra (401) 222-7901
Office of Housing and Community Dev’t
One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor
Providence, R.I
(401)
(401) – Fax