By Kevin Shalvey
PBN Staff Writer
Responding to growing unemployment and rising energy prices, a group of faith-based organizations has formed the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to lobby for policy changes that they say will keep Rhode Islanders in their homes.
Marty Cooper, a spokesman for the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, spoke to Providence Business News this week about the new organization’s goals.
PBN: What is the state of poverty and homelessness in Rhode Island right now?
COOPER: There are 6,773 people homeless in the state of Rhode Island. This number reflects only those people coming to homeless shelters. It does not include people sleeping in cars or on the streets or living with a friend or family member. [More than] 12 percent of Rhode Islanders live below the national poverty level. [The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month that] unemployment in the state is above the national average of 6.1 percent [Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is at 7.7 percent]. This is 2.2 percent higher than the [rate of] 5.5 percent last year. The number of foreclosures in the state continues to rise. This year, almost 3,800 homes have foreclosed, or are about to foreclose.
PBN: Can you tell me a little bit about the faith-based group that announced its formation Sept. 9?
COOPER: Nationally, there are [more than] 20 faith-based organizations involved in the fight against poverty. This includes the Jewish Council of Public Affairs and Catholic Charities, who spearheaded the program.
The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition was formed as a grassroots organization to achieve the national goal … [of fighting] poverty with faith for the purpose of cutting [it] in half over a 10-year period. The coalition includes Rhode Island faith-based organizations and utilizes the resources and support of community organizations like Kids Count [Rhode Island], The Poverty Institute of Rhode Island, Progreso-Latino and The Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.
During the past two months, [more than] 25 local faith-based and community-action groups have met to discuss poverty-related concerns and how to mobilize congregations throughout the state to join the fight against poverty. The coalition is one of diversity. It includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, The Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, The Rhode Island State Council of Churches, The Rhode Island Ministers Alliance, the Rhode Island Conference of United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Church of Rhode Island.
Virtually every faith-based group contacted immediately endorsed the campaign. More faith-based organizations will join the coalition as we all want to work together on cutting poverty.
PBN: How will its work in Rhode Island fit in with the national campaign?
COOPER: The coalition is working in conjunction with the national campaign. Our first goal is to let every candidate seeking office and those already in office know that poverty in Rhode Island is unacceptable.
Our second goal is to have them work with us in cutting poverty in half in 10 years. Both goals are consistent to the national campaign. We are asking all candidates who want to help us cut poverty to sign an endorsement of support and to present a plan to achieve this goal within 100 days of being in office. We have the unique ability to work with all of our elected officials as our state is small. For example, groups located in Pittsburgh can only reach state congresspeople living in that area of the state. Here we have the opportunity to meet with everyone.
PBN: What first steps have you taken to familiarize state leaders – who you want to reduce homelessness and poverty by 50 percent during the next 10 years – with your group?
COOPER: On Sept. 10, the coalition sent letters along with an endorsement form to all candidates and office holders. This included mayors, the governor, senators and representatives – and those currently in the Rhode Island General Assembly or seeking that office. We are asking them to sign and return the endorsement to the coalition by September 25 if they agree with our goal.
We want our state leaders to study the problem seriously and listen to people who understand the situation in Rhode Island and elsewhere. We want them to know that a fight against poverty will help improve the state’s economic climate. In partnering with our group, which includes the leaders of congregations throughout the state, they will have direct access to those who see and witness poverty. These leaders counsel families and parents of children living in poverty.
We are not looking for a “Band-Aid” approach to cure poverty. We are looking for a long-term solution.
PBN: Has Rhode Island’s homeless population been affected by cuts made during the last legislative session in Rhode Island?
COOPER: An easy and straightforward answer is yes. The recent state cutbacks in the budget have done more to increase poverty and lower living conditions in Rhode Island. Ironically it already has, and will continue to do more to hurt the economic climate and contribute to a larger deficit for the state.
The current round in cut backs has virtually eliminated the ability to help provide funding to build permanent supportive housing for the homeless. This includes individuals and families with children. At the same time, the cuts will increase the number of people who will be living in poverty conditions. The recent cuts could not have come at a worse time – utility and fuel costs have risen significantly as have health care, food and other basic necessities. An increase in any one of these areas can put a family at risk of living in unacceptable conditions. Imagine what it is like to have to endure the loss of health care or energy assistance. This includes members of our senior citizen population who worked many years, only to spend their retirement in the throws of poverty. No senior citizen, no child, no family and no individual should go to bed hungry and homeless. “There shall be no needy among us.”(Deuteronomy 15:4).
We ask that the State of Rhode Island provide humane services to those living in poverty and hopefully restore some or all of the cutbacks in social services. We would also like our officials to create programs that will increase the job market in the state and assist in helping businesses grow. This will help our labor force get better jobs in our state and result in a significant reduction in poverty.
