Senate Leaders join call for State of Emergency to assist those experiencing homelessness

A strong majority of the General Assembly now supports an emergency declaration to deal with the crisis of homelessness in Rhode Island.

From a Rhode Island Senate press release:

President of the Senate Dominick Ruggerio, Majority Leader Valarie Lawson, and Majority Whip David Tikoian today joined many of their colleagues in calling on Governor Daniel McKee to declare a State of Emergency to assist in addressing the State’s homelessness crisis.

They have also asked Housing and Municipal Government Chair Jacob Bissaillon and Government Oversight Committee Chair Mark McKenney to schedule a joint hearing on Tuesday, January 21, to review the State’s plan to address homelessness.

“A State of Emergency will grant the Governor the tools he needs to take immediate action to secure shelter for individuals throughout Rhode Island and overcome any further bureaucratic delays in the opening of Echo Village,” said Senate leadership. “Declaring a State of Emergency would empower the Governor to work across and through State agencies to mobilize resources, streamline solutions, and provide immediate relief to the growing number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The declaration will also serve as an important tool in overcoming any last-minute bureaucratic barriers and challenges to opening Echo Village and bringing its additional pallet shelters online during the winter months.”

Senate leadership noted that a State of Emergency would enable temporary exemptions to the fire code, for example. It encouraged the Governor to post a 24-hour fire detail at Echo Village until the fire suppression system is operational. The Senate leadership is encouraging expediting necessary inspections and working with RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) to provide fee-free transportation to shelters where beds are available.

Referring to a letter calling on the Governor to declare a public health emergency to address homelessness, which was signed by many members of the Chamber last week, Senate leadership said, “While we do not agree with all the language of the letter, we support our colleagues’ call for a State of Emergency. We look forward to working collaboratively with Governor McKee to support him in any way we can to get people off the streets and into shelters.”

Senator Bissaillon, whose District includes the Echo Village shelter, and Chairman McKenney joined the three Senate leaders calling on the Governor to declare a State of Emergency. They have scheduled a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government and the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics, and Oversight for Tuesday, January 21, at 2 pm in Room 313. The agenda will focus on three topics:

• The Department of Housing’s preparedness and response to homelessness;

• the proposed reorganization of the Department of Housing; and,

• the status of Echo Village.

In addition to the senators who signed a letter last week calling on Governor McKee to declare a State of Emergency, other senators joining in the leadership’s call to action include:

• Senator Peter Appollonio Jr.

• Senator Samuel Bell

• Senator Jacob Bissaillon

• Senator Robert Britto

• Senator John Burke

• Senator Frank Ciccone, III

• Senator Andrew Dimitri

• Senator Louis DiPalma

• Senator Walter Felag, Jr.

• Senator Hanna Gallo

• Senator Victoria Gu

• Senator Matthew LaMountain

• Senator Mark McKenney

• Senator Melissa Murray

• Senator Todd Patalano

• Senator Leonidas Raptakis

• Senator Susan Sosnowski

• Senator Brian Thompson

• Senator Lori Urso

• Senator Lammis Vargas

• Senator Samuel Zurier