Julie Duffy: State investment in housing is a step toward ending homelessness

Chair of Crossroads' Board Julie Duffy shared an op-ed in the Providence Journal on how crucial and beneficial investment in affordable housing is, not just for those experiencing homeless, but for everyone in our state.

Preview her op-ed below:

Rhode Island has the potential to be one of the first states in America to end homelessness.

And thanks to House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and the General Assembly, we have taken an important step toward that goal. The state budget that passed last month and was signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee makes the most significant investment in housing in my lifetime, and it includes once-in-a-generation support for evidence-based initiatives that have been proven to solve homelessness.

It now falls on those organizations, state and municipal agencies, and individuals who are responsible for providing direct services to ensure that the legislature’s investment is well spent. And that work needs to start with a clear and targeted focus on ending individuals’ and families’ homelessness with proven evidence-informed solutions.

Crossroads Rhode Island — the state’s leading provider of housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness — is ready to lead that effort and work with our partners and colleagues across the entire spectrum of housing advocates and homeless service providers.

Click here to read the full article!