FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2026
Contact: Nicole Dotzenrod, Communications Manager, ndotzenrod@housingnetworkri.org
Statement from the Housing Network of Rhode Island on Governor’s Proposed FY27 Budget
PROVIDENCE, RI – As a network of affordable housing developers, providers, and advocates, we know housing is one of the strongest investments we can make in the future of our state. After today’s release of the Governor’s proposed FY2027 budget, we are pleased to affirm that housing affordability and production remain priorities of the governor’s administration.
The Housing Network’s vision is that all Rhode Islanders live in safe, healthy, and affordable homes in thriving communities. As we look to accelerate progress on achieving our shared goals, we are grateful that Gov. McKee’s budget proposes another $120 million housing bond, which will continue to help advance the creation and preservation of permanent affordable housing.
We agree that Rhode Island should be a place where people of all backgrounds can afford to live and thrive. To truly address our state’s housing and homelessness challenges in an equitable and humane way, we must ensure that all voices – especially those of people most impacted – are welcomed into the conversation and in the development of people-centered solutions.
Our state’s housing challenges did not emerge overnight; they are the result of systemic barriers that have been compounded by growing instability at the federal level. Longstanding housing programs now face shrinking resources, major restructuring, or potential elimination altogether. At the same time, reduced funding and workforce losses have weakened the systems responsible for delivering these essential supports, leaving more residents at risk of housing instability and homelessness.
As federal support becomes less reliable and the responsibility increasingly shifts to states and municipalities, R.I. has taken important steps, including the passage of the state’s largest housing bond in the November 2024 election and the proposal for a second bond in FY27. These investments are necessary to meet the scale of the challenge before us.
Continued, sustained investment is essential if we are to build on this progress and respond to the urgency of the moment. As the Governor noted in his State of the State Address this week, “it’s not time to take our foot off the pedal. It’s time to keep Rhode Island building and fighting for the housing we deserve.”
The Housing Network of Rhode Island, our members and our partners remain committed to working alongside the Governor and elected leaders at all levels of government to ensure that every Rhode Islander has a safe, healthy, and affordable home. We look forward to reviewing the budget in greater detail and engaging further on proposals to expand affordable housing opportunities across the state.
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The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) works to increase and preserve the supply of high-quality affordable homes across Rhode Island through coalition building, increasing public support, and policy advocacy. Our vision is that all Rhode Islanders live in safe, healthy, and affordable homes in thriving communities.