NEWS
Rhode Island awards $336,000 for students facing homelessness
Eleven education agencies will use federal funding for school support. Families can ask district liaisons about available help; this is not a new household cash application.
By Staff Writer · Reviewed 2026-10-20
A school-support award, not a household cash application
Rhode Island's education department announced October 19 that eleven local education agencies will share $336,000 through the federal McKinney-Vento program. This is the second year of subgrants, intended to help students experiencing homelessness stay connected to school.
Recipients are Central Falls, Middletown, North Kingstown, Providence, Scituate, Warwick, West Warwick, Westerly and Woonsocket school systems, plus The MET Career and Technical School and Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College.
RIDE describes plans for transportation, tutoring, technology and hygiene supplies, among other supports. Activities vary locally. The announcement does not open a family cash-grant application or set a household application deadline.
Who should ask for help
RIDE's program guidance covers children without stable, adequate overnight housing. Examples include shelters, staying with other households because of housing loss or financial hardship, motels when suitable alternatives are unavailable, and cars or other places not meant for housing.
That guidance directs families to their district's homeless education liaison. Ask what help is available now rather than assuming every listed service operates at every school. The state's program page links a 2026–2027 liaison directory; its older grant-application dates are for education agencies, not a current family deadline.
Where to start
Ask the school office to connect you with its liaison, or use the linked RIDE program page. It lists state coordinator Eileen Botelho at 401-222-8466 and Eileen.Botelho@ride.ri.gov. Families outside the eleven award recipients should still contact their own liaison; RIDE says every local education agency must designate one.