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 ensure that tax and budget policies are equitable and adequate to fund vital public services. We accomplish this through research, policy analysis, education, and advocacy.
Major Changes to Rhode Island’s Welfare Program
Recently, major changes were made to Rhode Island’s welfare program, (the Family Independence Program) which is now being called the Rhode Island Works Program. One out of five people - most of them children - receiving cash assistance will lose their benefits in the coming months.
Learn more about these changes
Tax Incentive Disclosure and Accountability
Summary of Tax Incentive Disclosure and Accountability: Phase One
During the 2008 General Assembly Session, legislation was passed that requires greater disclosure and accountability of tax credits received by corporations. The legislation required that information about these tax credits be released in three phases. Phase One of the reporting, just released by the Department of Revenue, listed names and addresses of the recipients and the amount of the tax credits received during the previous fiscal year. This is a summary of this Phase One report.
Frequently Used Documents
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.
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.
Free Webinars: Help Working Families Claim the Tax Credits They Deserve
Tha National Women's Law Center is hosting a series of free webinars, where participants will learn about tax credits, such as federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, that can help low and moderate-income families.
Part I — Tax Credits: What Working Families Need to Know
Friday, Oct. 17 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (1 hour)
Part II — Tax Credits Outreach: Tips and Tools for Service Providers and Advocates
Thursday, Oct. 23 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (1 hour)
Click here to learn more or to register for the webinars.
