Tonight City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) along with co-sponsor Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) will be introducing a resolution at the City Council meeting calling on the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Inspection and Standards to create a security deposit assistance program for residents that are displaced due to fires or their homes or rental units being condemned.

“Currently, if a resident loses a home due to fire or their property being condemned, the City provides them with hotel vouchers for a limited period of time,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “That is an important temporary step, but what happens when those vouchers run out? These residents then become at-risk of becoming homeless. By re-purposing some of these funds we now use for hotel vouchers for long term housing, we can mitigate against that risk and help set families up for success.”

There are particular circumstances where individual buildings are deemed to be in violation of the Building Code to such an extent that the structure is no longer habitable. When that occurs, the Department of Inspection and Standards is forced to condemn the structure, which can lead to the removal of tenants from their homes. The City currently provides those residents with temporary housing vouchers at local hotels for a short period using revenue collected by the Providence Housing Court.

President Matos’ resolution would work to establish a comprehensive plan to ensure displaced residents don’t fall into homelessness, and that a means to provide access to stable housing is afforded to these displaced individuals.

“I firmly believe that housing should be a right for every resident of Providence. When residents experience displacement, it can become a slippery slope economically and for their health. We all deserve stability and assistance during those times when we need it most,” continued President Matos.