News

PAWTUCKET, RI – I commend and thank Governor McKee for ensuring minimal disruption to the urgent work of the Department of Housing with his appointment of Daniel Connors as interim Housing Secretary. Stable transitional leadership will be crucial in the months ahead as we continue to work with the State to address Rhode Island’s pressing housing challenges together. 

The Housing Secretary holds significant influence in shaping our state’s housing policies and programs. As the Governor contemplates the appointment of a permanent Housing Secretary, the chosen candidate must have a deep understanding of Rhode Island’s unique housing needs and opportunities, while demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively with our state’s long-standing network of community development corporations, nonprofit housing developers and service provider organizations.

In June 2024, the General Assembly approved the State’s largest investment to date in affordable housing production with the inclusion of a $120 million Housing Bond in the FY25 budget. With appropriate funding available, Housing Network of Rhode Island members estimate they have the capacity to produce and preserve more than 2,100 affordable homes within the next three years. This investment is a pivotal opportunity to ensure these homes are built and make significant progress in addressing the housing crisis, which the Housing Secretary plays an important role in.

We stand ready to work with the Governor’s Office in making recommendations about the qualifications, skills, and qualities that the permanent Housing Secretary should possess, and remain committed to working closely with the new Housing Secretary to ensure that Rhode Island can move forward with comprehensive, effective and equitable housing solutions.

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Providence, RI – The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) and Homes RI applaud House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and the House Finance Committee for allocating $120 million to the General Obligation Housing Bond and funding for the lead rental registry in the proposed FY25 proposed budget. This investment is crucial to keep up the
progress made in funding and building affordable homes that began with federal State Fiscal Recovery funds.

Rhode Island is currently facing a crisis of rising home and rental costs, limited affordable housing options, and increasing rates of homelessness. The best solution to these issues is to build more homes. Housing Network of Rhode Island members estimate they have the
capacity to produce and preserve more than 2,100 affordable homes within the next three years. The Housing Bond, which will primarily fund affordable housing production, represents a critical investment in ensuring those homes can be built.

While the House proposed budget takes important steps in the right direction, continued and sustained efforts are essential to address our housing crisis, accelerate housing production, expand affordable homes, and strengthen tenant protections. We remain committed to working collaboratively with policymakers, advocates, and community stakeholders to develop and implement solutions that ensure all Rhode Islanders have
access to safe, affordable, and stable homes.

PROVIDENCE, RI – “The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) celebrates the recent announcement of more than $102 million in funding to support the construction and preservation of over 1,400 homes across Rhode Island,” said HNRI Executive Director Melina Lodge. “This substantial investment represents another step towards addressing the urgent housing needs in our state.

We commend RIHousing for its thorough review of the many deserving projects and extend our gratitude to Governor McKee and state and federal officials. This funding will ensure that more than 1,200 of these homes are affordable, making a meaningful difference in the lives of many Rhode Islanders.

Housing Network members, who received a significant portion of this funding, are dedicated to improving housing availability and quality across the state. Our members have the capacity to produce and preserve over 2,100 homes within the next three years if the necessary resources are allocated.

We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and bring much-needed relief to families and individuals throughout Rhode Island. Together, we can ensure that every Rhode Islander has a safe, affordable place to call home.”

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The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) is the state’s membership organization for agencies committed to developing affordable housing and vital communities. Currently composed of 19 community development corporations and affordable housing developers, our members have created thousands of affordable housing units from Westerly to Woonsocket and are leading community revitalization and economic development efforts across our state. Their wide array of activities– including real estate development, financial asset building, housing counseling, resident empowerment and engagement, and much more– create tangible community change and transform the lives of Rhode Islanders.

HNRI members include: Church Community Housing Corporation, Crossroads Rhode Island, Foster Forward, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence and East Bay, House of Hope Community Development Corporation, Jonnycake Center, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, Omni Development Corporation, ONE Neighborhood Builders, Pawtucket Central Falls Development, Pawtucket Housing Authority, Providence Revolving Fund, Sojourner House, South County Habitat for Humanity, SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property) Inc., Valley Affordable Housing Corporation, WARM Center, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation & Women

Hopkinton, RI – Rhode Island lawmakers rolled up their sleeves alongside the Housing
Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) and the South County Habitat for Humanity today during a
special legislative build day. Senator Bridget Valverde, Senator Victoria Gu, Representative
Julie Casimiro, and Representative Matthew Dawson worked together with other volunteers to
construct a home for a local South County family in need of safe and affordable housing.

The home being constructed is part of the Cardinal Lane development, a community consisting
of seven single-family homes for families with household incomes at or below 80% of the Area
Median Income (AMI). This initiative underscores the collective commitment of legislators, public
and private developers, individuals and advocates to address the pressing need for affordable
housing in Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to partner with members of the General Assembly and the South County Habitat
for Humanity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families,” said Melina Lodge,
Executive Director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island. “By coming together today, we’re
building not only housing, but also hope and stability for those in our community who need it
most.”

Legislators and volunteers did not need prior building experience to participate in the build day.
They received comprehensive training, tools, and safety equipment to ensure a productive and
fulfilling experience on-site.

“We are grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the members of the General Assembly who
joined us for this event,” said South County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Colin
Penney. “Their dedication to serving our community and addressing the critical need for
affordable housing is truly commendable. Together, we can create lasting positive change for
local families.”

This collaborative effort exemplifies the power of partnership and community engagement in
addressing housing challenges and fostering inclusive, thriving communities. Through initiatives
like this, the Housing Network of Rhode Island and its member organizations are working
towards a future where every Rhode Islander has access to safe, healthy, and affordable
homes.

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The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) is the state’s membership organization for
agencies committed to developing affordable housing and vital communities. Currently
composed of 19 community development corporations and affordable housing developers, our
members have created thousands of affordable housing units from Westerly to Woonsocket and
are leading community revitalization and economic development efforts across our state. Their
wide array of activities– including real estate development, financial asset building, housing
counseling, resident empowerment and engagement, and much more– create tangible
community change and transform the lives of Rhode Islanders.

HNRI members include: Church Community Housing Corporation, Crossroads Rhode Island,
Foster Forward, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence and East Bay, House of Hope
Community Development Corporation, Jonnycake Center, NeighborWorks Blackstone River
Valley, Omni Development Corporation, ONE Neighborhood Builders, Pawtucket Central Falls
Development, Pawtucket Housing Authority, Providence Revolving Fund, Sojourner House,
South County Habitat for Humanity, SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property) Inc., Valley
Affordable Housing Corporation, WARM Center, West Elmwood Housing Development
Corporation & Women’s Development Corporation

Month of activities planned to celebrate contributions of Rhode Island’s nonprofit affordable housing developers

PROVIDENCE – The Housing Network of Rhode Island and its members gathered at the State House on April 3 to launch Community Development Month to celebrate the impact of Rhode Island’s Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and nonprofit housing developers. 

The Housing Network is made up of 19 member organizations committed to the development of affordable homes and vital communities across R.I. Community Development Month is an opportunity to celebrate these organizations and the transformational work they do to build a brighter, more equitable future. 

“The Housing Network’s members are a vital piece of Rhode Island’s housing development sector and are at the forefront of the effort to expand equitable housing and economic opportunities for low-income Rhode Islanders. We know community development goes beyond bricks and mortar. In addition to helping to address Rhode Island’s affordable housing crisis; these mission-driven organizations are making lasting change in communities statewide by offering a variety of critical resources,” said Melina Lodge, Executive Director, Housing Network of Rhode Island. “We invite you to join us this week to learn more and celebrate the many contributions of our members.”

Following the April 3 kickoff, HNRI’s members will be hosting their own events in the communities they serve throughout the month (see full schedule below).

Based on a recent survey, Housing Network members have the capacity to produce and preserve over 2,100 homes within the next three years if the necessary resources are allocated. 

In addition to producing safe and affordable homes from Westerly to Woonsocket, our members are actively engaged within the communities they serve; maintaining child care facilities and commercial spaces; supporting community gardens and start-up food enterprises; providing job training, homebuyer counseling, landlord education and home repair funds; and offering personal and small business micro-loans or grants. 

“Community development is about comprehensively addressing a community’s needs at large and bringing parity in access to basic needs such as food security, healthcare, education, and opening other doors that deliver economic opportunity to our state’s most vulnerable populations,” said Jennifer Hawkins, President and CEO, ONE Neighborhood Builders. “Oftentimes housing is the first big step to other pieces falling into place for residents we serve at ONE NB. Over the course of nearly four decades, our organization has developed over 480 rental units and 130 homeownership units in our mission to expand more equitable communities.”

“Rhode Island’s nonprofit developers are committed to building stronger, more resilient communities. By empowering residents and educating future homebuyers through programs like homebuyer and landlord education workshops – and by providing affordable, healthy homeownership and rental opportunities for Rhode Islanders – nonprofits like NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley are leading neighborhood revitalization efforts and encouraging economic opportunity for every resident no matter their income,” said Daynah Gist-Williams, Director of Homeownership and Asset Building Services, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.

“This month, we celebrate the ways local nonprofits

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