Government
Public services and government action
Demand for bus passes grossly outpaces supply at Mathewson Street Church
Mathewson Street was assigned 50 of the 600 free bus passes that RIPTA is giving out under a new pilot program. All 50 passes were claimed in about two hours, leaving dozens told to go to one of the other ten agencies awarded passes to participate in the new program.
As evictions and housing insecurity rise, Rhode Island announces $166m for affordable housing
The $166 million includes $115 million in funding from the $250 million Governor McKee and the General Assembly have earmarked for housing efforts from the state’s federal ARPA funds.
With winter approaching, Rhode Island falling short on need for shelter beds
Rhode Island has promised around 1097 beds going into the winter. Advocates estimate that the total number of shelter beds needed is 1300, a shortfall of around 203 beds. That shortfall will only get worse, if current trends persist.
McKee Administration responds to State House pallet shelter demonstration
Rhode Island's Housing Secretary Josh Saal responded to a request for comment from Uprise RI about advocates from the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project, Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere , and Direct Action for Rights and Equality constructing a rapidly deployable shelter on the State House plaza early Monday morning.
Pallet shelters offer solution to homelessness, but space is needed
The pallet shelters have heat and electricity, and would be erected in groups where additional shelters with showers and bathroom facilities would be located. There would be 24/7 wraparound services provided. This would be a big improvement over sleeping in tents.
Uprise RI files Open Meetings complaint against PVD City Council Finance Committee
Uprise RI today contacted the Rhode Island Attorney General's office alleging that the Providence City Council Finance Committee routinely violates the spirit of the Open Meetings Act by scheduling meetings with inadequate descriptions of what the meetings entail.
ACLU sues over RIPTA data breach affecting state employees
The lawsuit argues that both RIPTA and UHC did not adequately encrypt and secure the personal information from unauthorized access by third parties as required by federal standards, and were negligent in failing to properly maintain, protect, purge and safely destroy the data.
RIPTA to pilot free bus pass for people experiencing homelessness
The RIPTA Board voted on Wednesday to approve a pilot program that will in the short term deliver up to 600 free bus passes to people experiencing homelessness in the state, an increase from the 100 currently authorized.
First Source mandates the hiring of PVD residents but the city refuses to enforce it
Businesses that receive $25k or more in city loans, subsidies or tax breaks and have four or more employees are required by law to hire Providence residents, but businesses are not complying, said Providence residents, and the city is not enforcing the ordinance.
Updated: Parents claim Woonsocket Police used excessive force against juveniles at Autumnfest
This post has been updated with video of the parents delivering statements at a press conference.