This factsheet investigates the state of black families in Rhode Island. Rhode Island's black population is growing, but their wages remain low and their unemployment rate is high. They also find Black Rhode Islanders are have faced lower educational attainment and high rates of incarciration.

This report investigates the state of black families in Rhode Island. Rhode island's black population increasingly grows and are heavily concentrated geographically. Black unemployment is high and wage is low and flat for a long period. The Black poverty rate is high; they are less educated. Black homeownership rate is low; level of poisoning is high; and arrest rates are high.

Women of color are an important and growing group in Rhode island. They face many dissparties facing lower levels of education and higher rates of poverty. This report finds women of coloare consentrated in industries like health care, social assistance, and educational services. Their wages are low and they are less likely to own a house.

Income inequality has grown in recent decades in both the country and Rhode Island. The state should make taxes more equal, eliminate costly tax breaks, broaden the sales tax base, enact earned income tax credits, and maintain overall tax system to pay for infrastructure and education.

Rhode island's poverty rate is high and communities of color were more likely to be poor than Whites. Rhode Island's median income is higher than the national average. The strategy that helps the workers of color is to increase minimum wage.

This fact sheet investigates the RI works program which is a state safety net program that provides cash assistance to low-income families. Families who receive such support are most likely to be lead by a single parent or have child and living in poverty.

Raising a family in Rhode Island is expensive. Many households do not earn enough to meet their needs. Government funded work support programs and child care assistance program help close the gap between income and expenses for low wage families. This report finds that increasing the minimum wage does more to close the gap than cash ssistance programs.

Rhode Island changed policies to help ensure that single mothers with low incomes are able to raise their children. Most single parent families are lead by women and half of them are living in poverty. This report finds that policy which help include support programs which give them cash support and work programs focused on training. Governments should provide childcare assistance, boosts the income of single mothers and provides affordable health care for them.

This report investigates the state's requirements around the reporting of certain tax credits and companies that received them to maintain transparency. The Division of Taxation needs to ensure sufficient staff resources to make this program work. The state should amend the law to include the RI EDC Project status and historical tax credit. They should also update the tax credit laws and eliminate outdated credits.

Coverage for childcare assistance and health care is low in Rhode Island. Low-wage families need support from the government to close this gap.