RI Frequent Users
In Rhode Island, there are a subset of individuals who have been cycling through the Department of Corrections and the shelter system who are “churning” through the system – meaning they have been cycling from the shelter to the street to another shelter and are falling through the cracks of the system. Many of these individuals have been involved in the criminal justice system and have not been able to access housing.
The Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (RICH), a nonprofit advocacy and organizing coalition for homeless service providers, supportive housing providers and constituents, is administering the Frequent Users grant to develop a housing centered model that focuses on the needs of individuals cycling through the Department of Corrections and the homeless system. The pilot will focus on the systems change needed to replicate this program across the state through working with Housing Authorities, community mental health centers and homeless services providers. RICH will be the lead agency responsible for providing HMIS data and creating a process for sharing information with the Department of Corrections. RICH will contract with Eric Hirsch to provide an evaluation and Diana Dumin, Director of Housing at the Kent Center to work with the FUSE service team- the Providence Center, residents and landlords to develop the housing centered curriculum. The sponsor is located in Pawtucket, RI; however the project will be statewide.
Next Steps
- An Advisory Committee will be established to include the Department of Corrections Discharge Planning Supervisor, the HMIS Administrator, the FUSE Evaluator, and members of the Governor’s Re-entry Council’s Housing Subcommittee to determine FUSE eligibility.
- Rhode Island Housing will provide a maximum of 30 rental subsidies through the Road Home, Shelter + Care, and Section 8
- The RICH’s HMIS staff will work with the DOC to develop a data matching system that will identify individuals cycling through the shelter system and the prison system to identify potential candidates who meet the definition that is set by the FUSE Advisory Committee.
- The Kent Center’s Housing Department, will replicate it’s best practices by developing a housing centered case management team and a strength based approach to residency by working with the service team, the potential residents and the property managers.
- A Housing Specialist will be contracted to document program and procedure manuals for the community mental health centers, providing a 12 month mentorship program for the case management teams and housing providers.
- An evaluator will be contracted to evaluate the program for cost effectiveness, housing retention and qualitative outcomes. The evaluator will work closely with the HMIS staff, case management team and housing specialist.
