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Enews Archives

November 16, 2005

HousingWorks RI to release affordable housing fact book tomorrow
Governor Carcieri, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, members of the General Assembly and Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce president Laurie White will join HousingWorks RI tomorrow for the release of Rhode Island’s Affordable Housing Fact Book, a community-by-community breakdown of the state’s affordable housing crisis.

The event will be held at the Pearl Street Lofts at 300 Pearl Street (the corner of Central and Pearl Streets) at 10:30 a.m. For more information and to get a sneak peek at our new website, click here.

Housing starts continue to fall
The number of building permits issued across the state for single-family homes during the first three quarters of 2005 is down 9% from last year.

According to the latest data from the Rhode Island Builders Association, housing starts in South County declined to 323 in the first three quarters of 2005. Over the same period in 2004, 359 building permits were issued.

Rhode Island Builders Association executive director and HousingWorks RI member Roger Warren told the Providence Journal that he hopes the Low and Moderate Income Housing Act will help spark housing production in the next several years.

New agency to promote affordable housing in South County
The Washington County Regional Planning Council has created a new nonprofit agency to focus on increasing affordable housing in southern Rhode Island.

The Washington County Community Development Corporation will acquire and rehabilitate existing properties, produce new affordable units and advocate for and promote the development of affordable housing in the region.

Find out more about this important news here.

Block Island strengthens affordable housing fund
Block Island residents voted last week to strengthen the town’s ability to collect a seasonal rental tax that generates money for the production of affordable housing.

A state law passed three years ago gave Block Island the authority to collect a 1percent tax on seasonal rentals and put the money into an affordable housing fund overseen by the Block Island Affordable Housing Board. Last week’s vote amended the law, allowing the town to generate additional funds for affordable housing.

Want to find out more about this innovative local approach? Click here.

American Dream comes true for new Pawtucket homeowners
On November 7, the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) celebrated the completion of an affordable home in the Woodlawn section of Pawtucket. Bank of America Rhode Island president and HousingWorks RI member Bill Hatfield and Attorney General Patrick Lynch dropped by to welcome Rigoberto and Maria Tecun, the new homeowners.

The home is a duplex, so the Tecuns will live in one three-bedroom unit and rent out the other for about $800/month. The rental income will help them meet their monthly housing expenses. Maria and Rigoberto Tecun both work in Pawtucket. The couple moved to Rhode Island from Guatemala 13 years ago. They have a 22-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son