New Policies Make It Easier To Get Rental Assistance In RI

PROVIDENCE, RI — Struggling Rhode Island residents can get now rental assistance more easily, Gov. Dan McKee said Tuesday. He and the state's housing authority are working together to speed up the application and the approval process, the governor said.

Rhode Island received about $200 million in federal funding to help address the rent crisis being experienced by so many residents. So far, the process has been slow-going.

"We need to get money into people's hands," McKee said. "We have a great deal of dollars to get out in the next year."

Under the new policy, RI Housing will approve some applications, even if they are missing some nonessential parts or have small errors. The department will then work to fill in the missing information after the application is approved.

Under the new policy, McKee said that there is "no reason" for any eligible residents not to receive assistance or be evicted due to nonpayment.

To see if you qualify for rental assistance or to apply, visit the RentReliefRI website. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos also encouraged struggling renters to call her office if they need help filling out the application.