Welcome to The Poverty Institute
A RESPECTED AUTHORITY ON THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF RHODE ISLAND AND ITS RESIDENTS ...
The mission of the Poverty Institute is to promote economic security for low and moderate-income Rhode Islanders and equitable tax and budget policies. We accomplish this through research, policy analysis, education, and advocacy.
Recent releases and news about the State's Budget Crisis...
Middle class concerns about closing the deficit (Providence Journal, 5.11.08)
Ellen Frank, Sr Economist at the Poverty Institute, stated "we aren't going to be able to cut spending by 12 percent in teh state without severe impact on the economy" in response to the recent announcement that the state is facing a more severe deficit than originally projected.
The Child Support Enforcement Program: A Critical Investment for Children's Success
This report highlights how the Rhode Island Child Support Enforcement Program works and makes recommendations for legislators on ways to further improve this extremely important and cost effective program.
Comparison of Work Support Programs in Rhode Island and Other New England States
A comparison of the income eligibility criteria for the major work support programs across the New England states shows that Rhode Island is in line with its counterparts, not more generous.
Ten Things Rhode Islanders Should Know About the State's Fiscal Crisis (4.08)
Several oft-cited, but inaccurate, themes continue to dominate the debate surrounding Rhode Island's budget crisis - such as "the rich are fleeing the state due to high taxes" and "Rhode Island is a welfare magnet." This fact sheet dispels many of these myths by providing facts and another perspective to the state's fiscal crisis.
Analysis of Governor Carcieri's Proposed Changes to the Family Independence Program
Governor Carcieri has proposed repealing the Family Independence Act, Rhode Island's TANF Program that provides cash assistance and work readiness services to families, and replacing it with a "Work First" program. The proposal would end the entitlement to cash assistance for children and require all applicants to first seek employment at a time when RI's unemployment rate is the highest it has been since 1995. Among the other harmful policy changes are reduced time limits, a family cap, restricted work readiness activities if a family fails to find employment, and eliminating supplemental cash assistance to low-wage working families.
Rhode Island Cannot Afford Recently Enacted Tax Cuts (Tax Facts #7) (January 2008)
This issue brief discusses why Rhode Island should repeal two recently enacted tax cuts: the reduction of the capital gains tax and the alternative flat tax. These two tax cuts will cause the state to lose more than $62 million in the coming fiscal year. Given Rhode Island's severe budget crisis, the state cannot afford to continue these two policies.
State of Working Rhode Island 2007 (12.07)
The Poverty Institute's biennial study that documents trends in wages, occupations, unemployment, and the state's workforce. The report points out that the state’s labor force of 578,000 is more diverse, older and better educated than it was two decades ago but workers face a triple whammy – slowing job growth, eroding wages and benefits, and growing inequality.
2006 Rhode Island Standard of Need 
The Poverty Institute finds that it costs $50,000 a year to live and raise a family in Rhode Island. What a family needs to earn depends
largely on whether they are eligible for tax credits and work supports like child care and health care subsidies.
General Overview of public benefits: The Poverty Institute and the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America recently presented information about public benefit programs in Rhode Island.
The Family Independence Program User Guide: The Poverty Institute and RI Parents for Progress recently collaborated with the RI Department of Human Services to produce this guide to the Family Independence Program.
Help for Low-Income Working Families and Adults: These brief fact sheets provide information about public benefit programs available to low-income working families and adults in Rhode Island.
1. An outline of programs that help low-income household.
2. An outline of programs that help low-income adults.
3. Review monthly income limits to help determine eligibility for programs.
4. Learn how tax refunds affect eligibility for public benefit programs.
5. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and it's impact on public benefits.
