Press Release: Rhode Island Voters Strongly Support Public Investment in Affordable Housing

Published on May 19, 2010

PROVIDENCE, RI – May 13, 2010 - Despite the deflated housing market, voters in Rhode Island still see the lack of affordable housing as a big problem in the Ocean State. According to a recent telephone survey of 504 likely voters, Rhode Islanders across demographic lines support public investment in affordable housing. HousingWorks RI commissioned Hart Research Associates, a leading national survey research firm, to conduct the survey and released the findings at a press conference today.

“This research dispels the myth that voters see the real estate market downturn as having solved Rhode Island’s affordable housing crisis,” said Nellie M. Gorbea, executive director of HousingWorks RI. “Instead, the poll confirms that voters largely agree with the importance of ensuring that affordable housing is available across the Ocean State.”

The survey showed that an overwhelming number of Rhode Islanders - 69% favor continued state funding for affordable housing.  This support is strong and deep across all socioeconomic groups and geographic areas of the state. In fact, those with incomes at the higher end of the spectrum ($75,000 and above— 78% support) are just as likely to support continued state funding as those at the lower end of the income spectrum (less than $30,000—73% support).

In Rhode Island, there are only two state-funded programs that provide critical funding for the building and operation of affordable homes and apartments: Building Homes Rhode Island (BHRI) and the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP).

Building Homes Rhode Island is the state program established to distribute $50 million in bond funds. In 2006, 66 percent of Rhode Island voters approved the bond to the construction of affordable apartments and starter homes throughout the state. In the first three years of the BHRI program, the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission has awarded $37.5 million to 60 developments creating 821 homes in 28 communities throughout the state. The bond funding is set to expire in FY2011.

“Notably, voters were told in the survey that the 2006 $50-million-dollar bond referendum made about $12.5 million a year available for affordable housing from 2007-2011, so these data reflect voters’ responses to real-dollar spending, not perceived spending,” said Molly O’Rourke, Senior Vice President of Hart Research Associates, who presented the findings on behalf of HousingWorks RI. “In fact, fully 78% of Rhode Islanders would either like to see state funding increase (40%) or remain the same (38%) while just 17% want to see it decreased (11%) or eliminated (6%).”

Voter support was just as strong for the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP), a state-funded program designed to provide homes for low-wage working families and individuals with disabilities. Over the past decade, NOP has provided a home to thousands of individuals. Since its inception, NOP has contributed $44 million in gap funding for the development and operation of 1,188 units in 173 developments throughout 28 communities in Rhode Island and has played an instrumental role in growing the stock of affordable housing for those at the lowest end of the income ladder.

Despite the crucial role the Neighborhood Opportunities Program plays in ensuring that low-wage workers have access to housing, the Governor’s proposed FY2011 state budget provided no funding for NOP. The survey results clearly show strong opposition to eliminating this state funding. Three in four (75%) Rhode Islanders oppose the elimination of this funding, including majorities of Democrats (83%), independents (74%), and Republicans (55%).

“Clearly, providing support for minimum wage workers and individuals with disabilities to afford their rent is a strong point of consensus that is shared by voters across party lines,” O’Rourke said.

As part of their continued research in the effectiveness of state-funded housing programs, HousingWorks RI is gearing up to release a special report on the economic impact of the first $25 million of Building Homes Rhode Island money invested. “We need to build a greater understanding of the positive impact investing in affordable housing has on the state’s economy.  Tools like our voter survey and the economic impact study will provide policy makers with critical information to inform continued state investment in programs like BHRI and NOP,” Gorbea said. “Affordable homes are an important part of a comprehensive economic development strategy, and it is clear that state investment in the development of affordable homes is important to the voters across Rhode Island.”