Homelessness in Rhode Island has decreased by 2.8%, according to a report released last month by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness.
The document primarily draws from the organization’s Point-in-Time count conducted earlier this year, which records the number of homeless individuals in the state on a single night in January, The Herald previously reported.
During their 2025 count, the organization found that 2,373 individuals were homeless on the night of the count, compared to 2,442 individuals in 2024.
“This progress reflects the resources and investments the McKee administration has made available, as well as the tireless work of our service providers, municipalities and community partners,” Emily Marshall, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing, wrote in an email to The Herald.
The McKee administration is continuing to work towards “expanding access to stable housing for all Rhode Islanders,” Marshall added.
Providence Mayor Smiley is also working with the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness “to co-invest in housing, service and shelter projects and to shape policies that respond directly to the needs identified through the annual Point-in-Time Count,” according to City Spokesperson Josh Estrella.
Despite figures that point to a decrease in homelessness, some advocacy leaders say they haven’t noticed a change.
President and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island Michelle Wilcox, whose nonprofit organization provides housing services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the state, told The Herald she hasn’t witnessed a decrease in the number of people they serve.
This year, 1,022 individuals were experiencing chronic homelessness, defined as being homeless for at least 12 months. The report also found that among those experiencing homelessness, 866 were in families with minor children, 248 were victims of domestic violence, 125 were veterans and 118 were young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.
Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Providence had the highest concentration of people experiencing homelessness in the state.
The report also analyzed how homelessness varies by race within Rhode Island. Although Black or African American households make up just 5% of the state’s population, 31% of unhoused families and 25% of homeless individuals counted were Black or African American. White people made up the largest fraction of individuals experiencing homelessness in the state at 62%.
Rhode Island’s high cost of living is one factor contributing to homelessness in the state, according to the report. With a full-time job paying minimum wage in Rhode Island, the average cost of affordable rent is $780 — roughly 30% of a monthly salary.
But the fair market rent, the rate slightly below average cost of a typical unit, for a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,300.
Wilcox expressed concern for working individuals who balance multiple jobs and single parents, since they may not “have enough income to support housing.”
Due to rising rent costs, many individuals and families turn to shelters for temporary housing assistance.
In 2024, the average length of stay in shelters was 117 days, according to the report. “Long lengths of stay contribute to fewer shelter bed openings being available, creating a bottleneck,” the report states.
Over 1,000 households are on the prioritization list for rapid rehousing or permanent supportive housing, two of the state’s programs that aim to help Rhode Islanders secure stable accommodations.
But according to the report, there were only an average of 19 housing openings per month in 2024 — leaving a significant gap of families without much support.
To prevent and end homelessness in Rhode Island, the report recommends creating affordable housing, supporting statewide street outreach teams and updating existing data on homelessness in Rhode Island.
“Reliable data is essential,” Marshall wrote. “The better we understand the scope of the challenge, the more effectively we can target resources, build capacity and strengthen our housing system to meet the needs of Rhode Islanders.”
