Over the past 18 years, there have been significant increases in the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Rhode Island. Shelter use has climbed dramatically; and the highest numbers coincide with the real estate bubble years. During 2007-2008, the Emergency Food and Shelter Board Report showed some success in reducing the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. This reduction can be attributed to the success of state programs such as the Neighborhood Opportunities Program, Housing First Rhode Island and Rhode Island Housing Road Home Program. This Issue Brief provides an update on the changing faces and numbers of homelessness in Rhode Island as well as on such successful policies and programs which are helping keep Rhode Islanders in their homes.  Read more. 

Key Players in Housing and Economic Development

March 2009

Building safe, affordable, quality homes is a community-wide effort which involves for profit and nonprofit developers, municipal, state and federal government and many others. In this special report, we look at the contributions of one of those important organizations – Rhode Island’s Housing Resources Commission.  Read more. 

Housing: An Economic Engine to Jumpstart Rhode Island's Economy
June 2008
These are hard economic times. According to recent testimony by economists from Global Insight and Moody's Economy.com, the United States economy continues to contract and Rhode Island appears to be one of the first states in recession.  Read more.

The Housing Bond: One-Year Status Report
November 2007
One year ago, Rhode Island voters approved -- by a two-to-one margin -- a bond referendum to provide $50 million over four years to create affordable apartments and starter homes for Rhode Islanders.  Implementation of the bond-funded program, now known as Building Homes Rhode Island, began almost immediately and is now well underway.  Read more.

Neighborhood Opportunities Program
August 2007
The Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP), established in 2001, is a unique State-funded program that subsidizes the cost of affordable housing in Rhode Island. In six years, NOP has committed over $36.5 million toward the creation — acquisition, new construction,and rehabilitation — of 966 affordable housing units, leveraging more than $366 million in additional, non-NOP funding.  Read more.

Ending Homelessness in Rhode Island: The Supportive Housing Approach
May 2007
Homelessness is at an all-time high in Rhode Island.  Last year, 6,900 men, women, and children slept in a homeless shelter. This Issue Brief discusses one effective solution—known as “supportive housing”—for ending homelessness.  Read more.

The $50 Million Housing Bond Passed: What Now?
March 2007
Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly voted yes on Question 9 last November, authorizing $50 million in bonds for affordable homes. But passage of the bond was just the first step.  Read more.