PROVIDENCE – Homelessness in Rhode Island declined 6.7 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Monday.
Rhode Island had 1,101 people experience homelessness in a single night in 2018, of whom 739 were sheltered in emergency shelters and 311 were in transitional housing. There were 51 unsheltered homeless in 2018.
There were 103 homeless veterans in Rhode Island in 2018, 37 of whom were in emergency shelters and 63 of whom were in transitional shelters. There were three unsheltered veterans in the Ocean State in 2018. HUD said the figures showed an increase of 8.4 percent, or 8 persons, since January 2017. Since 2010, veteran homelessness in Rhode Island increased by 13.2 percent.
The report also found there were 354 homeless people with families in 2018, 170 of whom were in transitional housing, 182 were in emergency shelter and two were unsheltered. The population accounted for 121 family households. HUD said the number of families with children in Rhode Island experiencing homelessness increased 14.2 percent since 2017.
Unaccompanied homeless youth, those under 25 years old, totaled 39 in 2018, with 32 in emergency shelters, six in transitional housing and one unsheltered. All 39 were between the ages of 18 and 24. There were 16 parenting youths in 2018, all of whom were sheltered, eight in emergency shelters and eight in transitional housing.
The report also said that chronic or long-term homelessness among individuals increased 10 percent (or 24 persons) over 2017 levels to 233 individuals, of whom 17 were unsheltered and 216 were in emergency shelters.
Despite some of the rising homelessness demographics, the report showed that homelessness in Rhode Island has declined 20.4 percent since 2013.
“Our state and local partners are increasingly focused on finding lasting solutions to homelessness even as they struggle against the headwinds of rising rents,” stated HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “Much progress is being made and much work remains to be done but I have great hope that communities all across our nation are intent on preventing and ending homelessness.”
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
