Broad Nationwide Coalition Sues in Rhode Island to Block Trump Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants
Monday, July 21, 2025
RHODE ISLAND-BASED PLAINTIFFS
RICADV v. RFK Jr.
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence is Rhode Island’s federally designated domestic violence coalition made up of ten member agencies, and supports and assists domestic violence shelters in Rhode Island, among other goals. The Coalition has received grants from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that have allowed it to provide anti-racism and DEI training to its membership, and to build the capacity of culturally specific community-based agencies in Rhode Island to respond to domestic violence victims. The Coalition and some of its members have also received U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for various purposes, including the improvement of referral coordination for victims and survivors of domestic violence who are seeking shelter, and to support rental assistance for dozens of homeless and at-risk households enrolled in the Rapid Rehousing program.
Foster Forward is a direct service nonprofit organization in Rhode Island that supports youth transitioning out of foster care by providing housing, workforce, financial capability, and permanency services to youth and young adults with foster care experience. The organization relies heavily on HUD grants to fund critical housing stabilization services for youth experiencing homelessness. This includes support for its Your Way Home program, which provides case management, housing navigation and rental assistance for homeless youth ages 18-24, including those exiting foster care, experiencing domestic violence, or aging out of residential placements.
House of Hope Community Development Corporation is a homeless service provider in Rhode Island. It manages a housing stabilization program with 250 units of supportive housing; conducts street outreach to connect those living on the street with service provision; and provides basic needs to support the health and dignity of the unhoused. The organization has received HHS grants to fund street outreach, social work, intensive case management, and harm reduction, particularly for those experiencing unsheltered chronic homelessness and comorbid mental health challenges. The organization also currently has four grants directly through HUD, that, among other things, provides funding for permanent supportive affordable housing units, street outreach services to homeless young adults, and rental assistance and supportive services to multiple households in the private rental market.
The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness connects families and individuals who are living outdoors with shelters through a 365 day a year hotline, manages the statewide database that tracks all persons experiencing homelessness in the state of Rhode Island, and analyzes trends in homelessness to achieve better outcomes. The Coalition has received HUD grants to support the Homeless Management Information Services program, a statewide street outreach coordination program, and the Coordinated Entry System, which provides a hotline that people experiencing homelessness can call to be connected to supportive services to get them off the street.
Haus of Codec is a direct services nonprofit organization offering housing services to youth ages 18-24 in Rhode Island, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Rapid Re-Housing. The organization specializes in serving LGBTQIA+ youth and has received HUD funding to provide essential wraparound and case management services that address mental health and access to critical care for this population.
Community Care Alliance is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center that provides behavioral health treatment, basic needs assistance, and family supportive services. CCA operates the 988 line for the state as well as the behavioral health triage system that connects individuals to appropriate levels of care. CCA has received numerous grant awards from HHS for such programs as early intervention and recovery support for adolescents with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, and primary care coordination for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The organization has also received a variety of HUD funds to support individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness, including by providing housing identification, rent and move-in assistance, case management and support services.
