Public's Radio: Rhode Island received 159 housing vouchers to tackle homelessness last year. 45 have been used.

The federal pandemic response program provided billions of dollars nationwide to create housing vouchers meant to get unhoused people into permanent housing.

by Nina Sparling

The Public's Radio · Rhode Island received 159 housing vouchers to tackle homelessness last year. 45 have been used.

When Dale Bonanno learned he qualified for a new subsidized housing voucher last fall, he started searching. He'd been living in a men's shelter for several months, and now, his first apartment to himself in more than fifteen years felt within reach. Bonanno combed through listings on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. He called the numbers on the “For Rent” signs in apartment windows he passed walking around Providence. He turned to his caseworker for support. The days and weeks passed. Phone calls went unanswered. He estimates he inquired about roughly 100 units. He got to see three or four.

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