Eighth annual vigil focuses on poverty issues

Rabbi Wayne Franklin sounds the shofar. /KAREN JEFFREYS, RI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESSThe sound of shofars echoed through the Rhode Island State House Jan. 6 to signal the beginning of the Eighth Annual Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty vigil. This year more than 225 people heard comments from Governor Gina Raimondo, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and House Speaker Nicolas Mattiello. Bishop Herson Gonzalez of the Calvary Worship Center, Woonsocket, offered a keynote address that focused on the need for the General Assembly to concentrate on reducing poverty, saying that there was so much work that still needs to be done in this area.

The RI Interfaith Coalition is made up of diverse religious communities and advocacy partners throughout the state who come together to fight poverty.

During the vigil, coalition leaders spoke of their legislative concerns which include: expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, reforming pay day lending practices, expanding opportunities for workforce and Occupational Training, implementing Opening Doors RI (the state’s plan to end homelessness which includes support for an affordable housing bond, as well as Protection of families from domestic and on-school property gun violence), and maintaining the RIPTA senior/disabled fare program while providing adequate funding for senior centers.