As income inequality grows, a state senator renews the call to strengthen Rhode Island’s safety net
The widening gap between the wealthy and ordinary citizens has left thousands of Rhode Islanders struggling to meet essential needs like housing, health care, and food. The ongoing federal government shutdown has deepened this crisis.
“We must not accept the increasing concentration of wealth at the top while ordinary people lack affordable housing, health care and even food,” she writes.
Impact of the Government Shutdown
As the shutdown continues, about 145,000 Rhode Islanders who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remain without adequate funds to buy food. Hunger has grown across the state, where roughly 40 percent of residents now experience food insecurity.
Housing and Income Inequality
According to recent data from HousingWorks RI, the median household income for renters in Rhode Island is $48,434. Yet no community in the state allows families earning less than $60,000 per year to afford the average rent for a two-bedroom home. In many areas, it takes $75,000 to $100,000 to meet that cost. Moreover, families earning below $100,000 cannot afford a median-priced home anywhere in the state.
Health Care Costs and Federal Policy
The shutdown stems from congressional Republicans’ refusal to renew subsidies for the health care marketplace. Without these subsidies, insurance premiums for average Rhode Islanders could rise by 85 percent or more. Even with assistance, health care expenses remain beyond reach for many, and medical debt continues to drive a large portion of bankruptcies nationwide.
Author’s Summary
Rhode Island faces deepening inequality as housing, food, and health costs soar, leaving thousands vulnerable under a stalled federal safety net.