About the Housing Network of Rhode Island
The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) is the state association of nonprofit Community Development Corporations. HNRI exists to support the work of our members, and to promote public awareness and policies that address Rhode Island’s housing and community economic needs. Our members have built and developed thousands of affordable homes and initiated numerous revitalization efforts in neighborhoods and communities across Rhode Island.
MEMBER PROJECTS
Completed Rental, Commercial Space and Community Space Projects.
Stone Soup Farm Way
The house at Stone Soup Farm Way is a single-family 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath homeownership unit in South Kingstown. This home includes 1,300 square feet of living space, a full basement, and was built to maximize long-term comfort and efficiency for the resident while minimizing environmental impact.
King Street Commons
The 2.5-acre King Street Commons development includes 30 new affordable rental apartments and a state-of-the-art child care center along King Street in Olneyville, plus the recapitalization and preservation of 32 affordable apartments in Providence’s Elmwood neighborhood.
Maplewoods
Maplewoods is a 40-unit affordable rental apartment complex in the Manton Neighborhood of Providence. The units are large and ideal for families with children.
RECENT NEWS
Recent news articles from the Housing Network of Rhode Island.
Homes RI and Housing Network react to key housing initiatives passed in ‘23 session
PROVIDENCE — The Housing Network of Rhode Island and Homes RI, a multi-sector housing advocacy coalition, are pleased to see the General Assembly’s continued emphasis on housing reflected in key legislative initiatives and the FY24 budget. On July 5, the Governor signed into law a package of 13 bills championed by House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi aimed at housing production and land use reform, including: Allowing for the adaptive reuse of certain commercial structures like factories, hospitals, offices, malls and schools into high-density residential developments. Creating a transit-oriented development pilot program. Streamlining and clarifying the permitting, application and appeal processes for housing developments. Requiring regular updates to comprehensive plans. The package also contained legislation to prohibit rental application fees and allow tenants to provide their own state-issued background check and/or credit report during the screening process. The inclusion of this bill (House 6087 aa, sponsored by Rep. Cruz, and Senate 311 Sub-A sponsored by Sen. Murray) among the Speaker’s priorities yielded a significant protection for prospective renters designed to curb burgeoning and often predatory fees associated with rental applications. In addition to the application fee legislation, the General Assembly approved several more significant tenant and homeowner protections - firmly signaling that the expansion of these protections is essential to increasing housing stability while the State undertakes measures to address housing supply and affordability. These include a package of lead poisoning prevention bills backed by Attorney General Peter Neronha. One of the highlights of the AG’s bill package is legislation that creates a statewide rental registry and will help enforce compliance with existing lead safety laws, among other protections for renters impacted by noncompliant landlords. A bill requiring replacement of residential lead pipes - a priority of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio - also passed, making this session an historic one for advancing policies and practices to prevent childhood lead poisoning in Rhode Island. The General Assembly also passed legislation that provides a pathway to seal eviction records, something that has been a priority of Homes RI and many advocate partners since 2018. Legislation to extend the time on foreclosure mediation legislation also passed, which helps ensure that Rhode Islanders at risk of foreclosure can access free mediation and counseling to potentially avoid the loss of their home. The FY24 Budget reflects the Administration and General Assembly’s response to the housing crisis, and we applaud both branches of government for taking decisive action with an additional $71.5 million investment from State Fiscal Recovery Funds in housing, homelessness services, and Housing Department infrastructure. These investments are welcome and necessary, and investments in housing should remain a top priority in future budget years as our State confronts the impacts of under-building and under-investing for the prior three decades. Overall, the housing investments in the FY24 budget coupled with the slate of land use and housing stability legislation approved by lawmakers this session will help make housing more equitable and accessible for all Rhode Islanders. The focus on housing as a policy priority remains crucial as
Housing Network celebrates Rhode Island’s Community Development Corporations
PROVIDENCE – The Housing Network of Rhode Island is pleased to kick-off Rhode Island Community Development Corporation Week (March 13-17) with the release of the Network’s 2021-2022 Membership Impact Report. The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) is the state’s membership organization of Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and nonprofit housing developers, who are committed to expanding equitable housing and economic opportunities for low-income Rhode Islanders. The Housing Network’s members are a critical piece of the state’s housing development sector and essential to ensuring every Rhode Islander has a safe, healthy, affordable home in a thriving community. The Impact Report details the contributions to Rhode Island’s communities and economy of our 15 member nonprofits from 2021 to 2022.
