The Independent: Forum focuses on town's housing future

By Colin Howarth | Staff Writer Jun 23, 2018 | Updated Jun 26, 2018

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — In 2016, a household income of $85,373 was needed to afford the cost of renting of an average price two-bedroom apartment in South Kingstown. That ranks the town among the most expensive communities in which to rent in the state, according to the 2017 Housing Fact Book from HousingWorks RI.

During a forum Tuesday, local leaders outlined the challenges and opportunities the town faces in terms of housing and started to shape a strategy for the future.

“There's just really not a lot of housing out there for folks who are working in the tourism industry, services, at your local grocery store. If you think of all these places where folks are not able to make $25-$30 an hour, they're really really having trouble finding any housing near where they work,” said Jen Krueger, a member of the town's Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee and an employee at the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale. “There are just so many different types of people who need affordable housing ... Oftentimes, we're seeing, maybe, families who have been here for generations have to go north.”

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