The Economic Progress Institute: Rhode Island Standard of Need
ITEP Work in Action
The Economic Progress Institute publishes the Rhode Island Standard of Need (RISN) to answer two fundamental questions:
What is the cost of meeting basic needs for families and individuals in Rhode Island?
How do state and federal work and income supports help households meet the cost of basic needs?
The RISN calculates a no-frills budget for families and single adults that includes the costs of housing, food, transportation, health care, child care and other necessities. The RISN also demonstrates how work supports like tax credits, food assistance and child care and health care subsidies help close the gap between income and expenses. By taking all of these factors into account, the RISN provides a more realistic measure of the economic security of Rhode Islanders than the federal poverty level.