The 2005 session of the General Assembly gave the HousingWorks RI coalition its first major victory, awarding $7.8 million for two programs that will help address the state's housing affordability crisis.
Planks in HousingWorks RI Policy Platform for 2004-2005 that Received Funding:
A request to bump up the anticipated Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP) appropriation 50 percent, from $5 million to a record $7.5 million. The $2.5 million requested increase will build 1,000 units of additional affordable rental housing by 2010. Rep. Gordon D. Fox, House Majority Leader, and Sen. Walter S. Felag, Jr. sponsored the request for increase.
In addition, $300,000 was approved for a Supportive Services Program to help create housing aimed at reducing homelessness and lowering demand for expensive state services.
Three Other Elements of the HousingWorks RI Platform Stalled:
- H-5793 - $600,000 for the Shelter to Housing Initiative, to provide rental subsidies for people leaving homeless shelters.
- H-5358 - $400,000 to expand the capacity of nonprofit community development corporations (CDC's) to build more housing.
- Statewide housing land trust start-up funding ($100,000)
