May 11, 2006
12 Rhode Island cities, towns ask General Assembly to pass HousingWorks RI platform
Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Cranston, Exeter, Lincoln, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Westerly first to adopt HousingWorks RI platform, includes a $75 million housing bond
Officials of 12 Rhode Island cities and towns have endorsed a series of bills in the HousingWorks RI platform currently before the General Assembly that respond to Rhode Island’s housing crisis.
The proposed legislation will provide the tools they need to create more housing for state residents, HousingWorks RI states. As of May 10, 12 municipalities have adopted formal resolutions supporting the HousingWorks RI platform, which asks the legislature to pass:
- A $75 million bond issue for affordable homes, subject to voter approval in November 2006.
- $7.5 million to continue funding the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP). NOP is administered by the Housing Resources Commission and funds affordable housing development throughout the state.
- $350,000 for Year Two of the Supportive Services Pilot Program. A key element in the State’s ten-year plan to end homelessness, this program helps develop permanent housing for individuals with disabilities.
- Establishment of a permanent dedicated funding stream for affordable housing.
- Preservation of a strong State Historic Tax Credit to stimulate the production of affordable housing.
- $400,000 to expand the capacity of non-profit community development corporations (CDCs) to build more housing in their communities.
Municipalities supporting these bills are Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Cranston, Exeter, Lincoln, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, South Kingstown, Tiverton and Westerly. Many more are expected in the days and weeks ahead, according to HousingWorks RI Acting Director Ari Matusiak.
They’ve been joined by similar endorsements by three mayors – Scott Avedisian of Warwick, David Cicilline of Providence and Charles D. Moreau of Central Falls – as well as Town Managers Michael C. Wood of Burrillville, Richard Kerbel of North Kingstown, Michael J. Abbruzzi of Warren and Wolfgang Bauer of West Warwick, and Town Administrator Gerry Kempen of Middletown.
“Cities and towns understand firsthand a crisis where a family earning the state’s median household income cannot afford to buy a home anywhere in their communities,” Matusiak pointed out. “Young families, hardworking couples, returning college graduates, workers...without them, there is no glue to our neighborhoods.”
Matusiak said rents and house prices have ‘skyrocketed’ in Rhode Island. “Since 2000, the median sale price of a single family home more than doubled to $282,900. But the U.S. Census calculates that median household income in the state inched up a mere 1 percent annually.
“It’s just as bad for renters,” Matusiak continued. “In 2005, the average rent in Rhode Island for a 2-bedroom apartment was $1,147. A household has to earn $45,880 to afford rent that high.”
Each of the platform elements is essential, said Matusiak, and most of them are before the legislature right now as part of the state budget deliberations.
“We’re particularly grateful that the cities and towns are speaking out now, because the $75 million bond issue cannot make it to the November ballot without legislative approval. This is the jumpstart that our housing market needs.
“Similarly, the NOP and supportive housing components are crucial to a housing ‘safety net’.”
Matusiak said the campaign – co-led by The Rhode Island Foundation, Rhode Island Housing and the United Way of Rhode Island and with well over 100 member organizations – will make sure that the resolutions make their way to the desks of legislators.
“These are united voices that cannot be ignored,” he concluded.
Complete information about the housing crisis in Rhode Island and a town-by-town ‘affordability index’ is available at www.HousingWorksRI.org.
