Legislative & Policy Work
Support the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act
This bill enhances the ability of qualified nonprofit organizations to purchase older multi-family properties to produce or preserve affordable homes. Qualified nonprofits include Community Development Corporations (CDCs), nonprofit affordable housing developers, and Public Housing Authorities.
2024 Legislative Priorities
As a multi-sector coalition of organizations focused on increasing the supply of safe, healthy, and affordable homes across Rhode Island, Homes RI is pleased to see Governor Dan McKee’s proposal for a $100 million housing bond included in his FY25 budget recommendations.
If approved, this would be the largest housing bond in Rhode Island history, increasing affordable and middle-income housing production and infrastructure, supporting community revitalization, and promoting homeownership. This investment is essential to maintain progress on building and preserving more affordable homes for Rhode Islanders – and advancing towards a future that we all want and deserve.
If we want to truly address our housing needs as a state, we must not only make historic investments, we must make transformational ones. We are requesting that the R.I. General Assembly increase the governor’s proposed bond amount by $50 million to reflect increased need, rising construction and financing costs; and help sustain momentum gained by recent investments in housing.
Homes RI sent a letter to Governor Dan McKee before the budget was released affirming our priorities for Fiscal Year 2025, which reflect our commitment to expanding housing opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. We requested that the following transformational investments be included in Gov. McKee‘s FY25 budget proposal:
- A General Obligation Bond of at least $250 million to fund capital costs of construction and preservation of long-term affordable homes for low-income and moderate Rhode Islanders;
- At least $12 million to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program for Rhode Islanders with short-term financial crises;
- At least $1.6 million to continue legal assistance to tenants to aid in the prevention of homelessness as currently proposed by the Department of Housing;
- At least $21 million for down-payment assistance to support first-time and first-generation buyers in achieving their aspirations to own a home;
- At least $10 million for home repair programming to ensure the long-term viability of our existing housing stock, as proposed by the Department of Housing; and,
- Fully funding the implementation of a statewide mandatory rental registry as required by RI General Law § 34-18-58.
2023 Legislative wins
As a multi-sector housing advocacy coalition, Homes RI was pleased to see the Rhode Island General Assembly’s continued focus on housing reflected in key legislative initiatives and the FY24 budget.
The General Assembly largely threw its support behind House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s housing policy package; approving 13 of 14 bills including legislation to prohibit rental application fees and allow tenants to provide their own state-issued background check and/or credit report during the screening process for an apartment. Other approved legislation will make it possible to seal an eviction record upon request. These new laws went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
The General Assembly approved several more significant tenant and homeowner protections – firmly signaling that the expansion of these protections is essential to increasing housing stability while the State undertakes measures to address housing supply and affordability. These include a package of lead poisoning prevention bills backed by the Attorney General’s office.
Coupled with housing investments made in the FY24 budget, these policies will help keep more Rhode Islanders stably and safely housed.
Our annual legislative agenda is developed by the Policy & Advocacy Working Group and approved by the Homes RI Steering Committee. It aligns with our Policy Priorities and Framework.
For more information about our Legislative Agenda, contact Katie West at kwest@housingnetworkri.org.
Read our Housing Policy Guide to stay informed on thoughtful, strategic practices to improve Rhode Island’s state of housing.
