Barriers To Building Affordable Housing On State House Agenda

PROVIDENCE, RI — A special legislative commission studying barriers to the creation of low-income and affordable housing in Rhode Island will host statewide experts on Tuesday, and the public is invited to tune in.

Under the Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act, communities must work to ensure that at least 10 percent of their housing stock qualifies as affordable.

The commission will meet on August 17 at 2 p.m. and their meeting will be livestreamed and televised on Capitol Television.

The agenda includes a presentation by HousingWorks RI Director Brenda Clement and a presentation on Providence’s anti-displacement and comprehensive housing strategy by Emily Freedman and Bonnie Nickerson of the Providence Planning Department.

The commission is led by Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol) and includes Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence), Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry), Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg, ONE Neighborhood Builders President and Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins, Grow Smart Rhode Island Executive Director Scott Wolf, Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation Executive Director Linda Weisinger, Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director Caitlin Frumerie, Rhode Island Association of Realtors Government Affairs Director David Salvatore, Rhode Island Builders Vice President David Caldwell, Housing Network of Rhode Island/Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island Executive Director Melina Lodge, Rhode Island Housing Executive Director Carol Ventura, Robert Marshall of the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council, Glocester Town Planner Karen Scott, Providence Department of Planning Director Community Development Emily Freedman, Barrington Tax Assessor Ken Mallette and Jongsung Kim of the Bryant University Department of Economics.