Rhode Island Prevents Homelessness Discrimination
by Kate M. Kelly on July 1, 2012
New Legislations Protects the Daily Lives of the Homeless
National advocates are calling Rhode Island’s new homeless bill of rights “historic legislation.” Passed on June 26, 2012, the bill makes it illegal for government, police healthcare workers, landlords and employers from discriminating against individuals who lack housing.
This legislation is in stark contrast to the trend of cities such as Denver, Dallas and Berkeley, CA passing ordinances that outlaw panhandling, sleeping outdoors and loitering and discriminate against the homeless.
The legislation was a goal that Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless advocated as a key to ending homelessness in their state. Click here to view their agenda.
Quoting from a Washington Post article, the bill of rights,
The bill of rights,“was also designed to send the message that the homeless have the same rights as anyone else, according to Jim Ryczek of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Civil rights laws have always been primarily about changing behavior,’ Ryczek said.”
Click here to read the full Washington Post story.
Monarch Housing Associates
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Kate Kelly joined Monarch Housing Associates in March of 2011. Prior to that, she worked for seven years at the Partnership for Strong Communities in Hartford, Connecticut as the Reaching Home Campaign Manager. Managing the statewide effort to end long-term homelessness, Kate effectively implemented statewide advocacy campaigns to fund over 700 new supportive housing units for individuals and families. She has experience directing fundraising events and presenting federal and state conferences. At the Partnership, she educated state and federal legislators and staff about supportive housing homelessness issues and advocated for new funding sources. She has also developed public forums that led to formal policy recommendations and educated local constituencies such as policymakers, legislators and funders. Ms. Kelly received her B.A. in government from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S.W from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Click here to send Ms. Kelly an email.
Kate has written 958 awesome articles.
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