HNRI Press Releases
E.P. reaches affordable housing goal with opening of rehabilitated Sutton Place
EAST PROVIDENCE – The city became the seventh municipality in Rhode Island to reach the state’s 10% community goal for affordable housing with the opening of a 36-unit complex on Monday.
ONE Neighborhood Builders hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly rehabilitated Sutton Place apartment complex of affordable housing.
“When communities invest in affordable housing, they are investing in a stronger economy. We would not be in a position to open the doors of Sutton Place without strong support from our partners in government, from the federal delegation all the way to the local and municipal leaders in East Providence,” said ONE Neighborhood Builders Executive Director Jen Hawkins. “East Providence is now the seventh municipality in Rhode Island to reach the state’s 10 percent low- and moderate-income housing goal.”…
Rhode Island expert outlines worsening housing crisis
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — As rental rates rise across the state, Rhode Islanders now face harsh realities of a continued housing crisis, that shows no signs of ending soon.
The rising rental rates have driven families from their homes, like the Ringland’s of Barrington.
Their monthly rent went from $950 to $1,800 over the past two months.
Jack Ringland explained Thursday, “I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I guess Barbara could go up to New Hampshire and live with her mother, and they tell me I still have a right to get into the veteran’s home.’ That’ll make us 150 miles away from each other. That’s no way to spend the rest of our days.”
Brenda Clement, director of Housing Works Rhode Island, said the nearly doubling of monthly rental is legal.
She explained Tuesday, “Most tenants in Rhode Island are month-to-month tenants, and as such, are at risk of a landlord saying, ‘I’m doubling your rent and I’m terminating your residency with proper notification.’”…
AFFORDABLE HOMES CONTINUE TO BE OUT OF REACH FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS IN RHODE ISLAND
PROVIDENCE, RI– In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Rhode Island, full-time workers need to earn $24.32 per hour. This is Rhode Island’s 2022 Housing Wage, revealed in a national report published today. The report, Out of Reach, was jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) —a research and advocacy organization dedicated to achieving affordable and decent homes for people with the lowest incomes— and Homes RI —a coalition of organizations working together to increase the supply of safe, healthy and affordable homes throughout Rhode Island. Homes RI is coordinated by the Housing Network of Rhode Island…
Housing has become less affordable in much of New England, new report finds
PROVIDENCE — A person earning minimum wage in Rhode Island would have to work at least 79 hours each week in order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent, according to a new national report.
The Out of Reach report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition also found that Rhode Islanders need to earn a minimum of $24.32 per hour to afford an average two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate in 2022…
Volunteers provide free home repairs to area residents
WOONSOCKET – On July 18, 225 volunteers from the interdenominational Christian nonprofit, Group Cares, came to Woonsocket to repair the homes of 22 homeowners throughout the city as part of the Woonsocket Free Home Repair Program, coordinated by NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley. Monday through Friday volunteers painted, repaired decks, and weatherized the houses, all free of charge.
According to a news release, the program launched on July 18 as the volunteers, who came from across the country, piled into the gym at Hamlet Middle School after spending their first night sleeping on the floor of a classroom. The group was welcomed by representatives from Group Cares, and by Meg Rego of NWBRV.
2022 marks the fourth year that NWBRV has partnered with Group Cares, to provide free home repairs for homeowners and their families. With the pandemic disrupting programming in 2020 and 2021, organizers said many of the home repair recipients have been waiting for this work since they initially applied in 2019…
Aldersbridge Communities joins East Point development
he council, at its July 19 meeting, gave the second of two mandated approvals to an ordinance authorizing a Tax Incremental Financing agreement, a “TIF,” between the city and the developers “East Point” project in Rumford, amending the initial pact to include a new partner, the local non-profit Aldersbridge Communities.
“Aldersbridge at East Point” is now part of the endeavor, a four-story, modern apartment building with 39 units of affordable, independent living-style housing for LGBTQI+ elders and their loved ones.
Representatives of Aldersbridge and Noble Development LLC, the lead developer, made their first presentation to the council on the amended proposal at the body’s June 21 meeting. They made follow-up comments last week. Aldersbridge is partnering with Barbara Sokoloff Associates (Providence) and ONE Neighborhood Builders (Providence) on the building…