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1/13/2025
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Senate Leaders join call for State of Emergency to assist those experiencing homelessness
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Senate hearing on crisis scheduled for next week
STATE HOUSE, Providence – President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio, Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson, and Majority Whip David P. Tikoian today joined many of their colleagues in calling on Governor Daniel J. McKee to declare a State of Emergency to assist in addressing the state’s homelessness crisis.
They have also asked Housing and Municipal Government Chairman Jacob Bissaillon and Government Oversight Committee Chairman Mark P. McKenney to schedule a joint hearing to review the state’s plan to address homelessness on Tuesday, January 21.
“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,” the leaders said. “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.”
They noted that a State of Emergency would enable temporary exemptions to the fire code, for example, and encouraged the Governor to post a 24-hour fire detail at Echo Village until the fire suppression system is operational there. The Senate leadership is encouraging expediting necessary inspections, and working with RIPTA 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, the leaders 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 immediately.”
Chairman Bissaillon, whose district includes the Echo Village shelter, and Chairman McKenney joined the three Senate leaders in 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 p.m. in Room 313. The agenda will focus on three topics:
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the Department of Housing’s preparedness and response to homelessness,
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the proposed reorganization of the Department of Housing, and
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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:
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Senator Peter A. Appollonio Jr.
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Senator Samuel W. Bell
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Senator Jacob Bissaillon
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Senator Robert Britto
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Senator John P. Burke
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Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
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Senator Andrew R. Dimitri
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Senator Louis P. DiPalma
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Senator Walter S. Felag, Jr.
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Senator Hanna M. Gallo
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Senator Victoria Gu
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Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
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Senator Mark McKenney
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Senator Melissa A. Murray
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Senator Todd M. Patalano
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Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
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Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
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Senator Brian J. Thompson
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Senator Lori Urso
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Senator Lammis J. Vargas
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Senator Samuel D. Zurier
For more information, contact:
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for the Senate
State House Room 112
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 276-5558
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