Growing Income Inequality and Rhode Island’s Safety Net
We must not accept the growing concentration of wealth at the top while many people struggle to afford housing, health care, and food, the senator writes.
Impact of Government Shutdown on Food Assistance
As the government shutdown continues, 145,000 Rhode Islanders relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remain without funds to purchase food. The delay, regardless of when or how the Trump administration complies with a court order to provide at least partial November benefits, has worsened hunger in the state.
“Nearly 40 percent of the population faces food insecurity.”
Housing Affordability Crisis
According to recent data from HousingWorks RI, the median household income for renters in Rhode Island is $48,434. However, there is no community where households earning under $60,000 can afford the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment. For most areas, the required income exceeds $75,000, often reaching $100,000.
Similarly, no community offers median-priced homes affordable to households earning less than $100,000 annually.
Health Care and Federal Shutdown
The core issue behind the federal shutdown is congressional Republicans’ refusal to renew health care marketplace subsidies. Without these, premiums for many Rhode Islanders who depend on subsidies could rise by 85% or more. Even with subsidies, health care remains financially inaccessible to many, with medical debt being a leading cause of bankruptcy nationwide.
Summary
The growing wealth gap in Rhode Island exacerbates food insecurity, housing unaffordability, and health care challenges, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen the state's social safety net.