Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Rep. Felix calls for rent relief clinics to get word out to BIPOC communities about help that’s available

 

STATE HOUSE — Rep. Leonela “Leo” Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket) joined with Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, and the George Wiley Center today in calling for clinics to get the word out about relief options that are available for Rhode Islanders who are having difficulty paying rent.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated the housing crisis in our state, and both landlords and tenants are facing extremely difficult choices,” said Representative Felix during a press conference at the State House. “The financial help to pay rent or mortgages is there, but too many people can’t access it.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 26 to invalidate the federal eviction moratorium, eliminating vital eviction protections that have kept millions of households stably housed.

“I acknowledge the hard work that Rhode Island Housing is doing to ensure people get economic relief through Rent Relief RI, and I know it hasn’t been easy,” said Representative Felix. “But regardless of that effort, communities who are most in need of eviction relief funds — BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities — are being left behind. Community organizations like the George Wiley Center, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Center for Justice, and others are trying to fill that gap, but they can’t do it alone.”

Representative Felix proposed the establishment of clinics, modeled after the equity-focused BIPOC Vaccination Clinics, which would help individuals and families not only to get information about rent relief options, but to sit down with a trained volunteer to apply for the relief right away.

“We need to meet people where they are,” said Representative Felix. “We need to acknowledge that cultural, language and digital divides really do exist in Rhode Island; and it is up to us to address them.”

     

 

-30-

 

 

2026 has begun in some parts of the world. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and New Zealand already held celebrations earlier today. It comes as there was an increased police presence in Sydney as Australia rung in the new year after the deadly Bondi [[ BOND-eye ]] Beach attack earlier this month. Another million or so revelers are expected to pack New York City's Times Square for the Big Apple's annual celebration.        President Trump is ending National Guard deployments in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the cities were gone if it wasn't for the federal government stepping in, adding they will come back in maybe a different and stronger form when crime begins to soar again. The move comes weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's bid to send National Guard members to the Chicago area to protect federal officials who were enforcing his immigration policies.        Drugmakers are set to raise the prices of hundreds of medications in the new year. A new analysis from health care research firm '3 Axis Advisors' found that a higher number of drugs would see median price hike hovers around four percent despite drugmakers pledging to offer more favorable prices under new Trump administration policies. Pharmaceutical companies entered into voluntary agreements with the White House rather than be subjected to tariffs that could impact their profits.        Some light snow could ring in the New Year tonight in New York City and Boston. It's from a weaker area of low pressure traveling down from southern Canada that's shifting East over the Great Lakes region. Snow is forecast to fall from Ohio to Pennsylvania as a result before moving Northeast.        SNAP recipients in five states will see restrictions on soda, candy and other foods starting tomorrow. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are the first of at least 18 states to enact waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through the program. It comes as part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again effort, and it could impact more than 40 million Americans.        A Walt Disney World worker is being treated after they were hurt while stopping a boulder prop from bouncing into the audience during an Indiana Jones stunt show. The incident happened Tuesday during the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Video on social media shows the boulder bouncing off track and starting to head toward the crowd watching the show before a staff member stepped in front of it, getting knocked to the ground.       

Old News Archives