News Digest: Housing touches every aspect of our lives, from business and education to health and our local economy.
HousingWorks RI at RWU, Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Housing Network of Rhode Island, and the Public Housing Association of RI, joined together to communicate the latest news on housing and homelessness in Rhode Island.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing replaces overgrown, vacant lot
October 30, 2018
PAWTUCKET – An overgrown lot on the Pawtucket/Central Falls line that served as an illegal dumping ground for more than a decade has officially been “flipped” thanks to the efforts of Pawtucket Central Falls (PCF) Development, which transformed the brownfields site into new affordable housing along the Blackstone River.
“We essentially rebuilt a neighborhood,” said PCF executive director Linda Weisinger on Monday, speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the development.
The project includes a total of 46 rental homes for low and moderate-income individuals and families in Pawtucket and Central Falls.
To read the complete article, featured in The Valley Breeze, click here.
_________________________________
Planning board continues talks of affordable housing project
October 27, 2018
EAST GREENWICH – A proposed affordable housing project on South County Trail continues to be considered by the Planning Board.
The 96 unit new residential development, Fry Brook Terrace, calls for four apartment style buildings and a freestanding clubhouse on approximately 18 acres. Although some members of the board were concerned about the economic stress the project could place on the town, an expert witness representing the project, Joseph Lombardo, said it would bring East Greenwich closer to the state’s mandate percentage for affordable housing.
Nearly three decades ago, Rhode Island mandated a 10 percent minimum of affordable housing per-district, and East Greenwich is still a ways off from meeting it.
To view the complete article, featured in The East Greenwich Pendulum, click here.
_________________________________
Former Providence knife factory finds new life as housing
October 30, 2018
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Between 1958 and 1988, hundreds of employees worked at the Imperial Knife Factory in Olneyville, manufacturing folding pocket knives, stainless steel cutlery and tableware.
Today, that same mill building boasts 60 new apartments for families of varying income levels.
“In the coming weeks, 60 families will come home to a beautiful apartment here,” said Dan Drazen, project manager for Trinity Financial, the developer of the $22-million affordable housing project at 60 King St.
To view the complete article, featured inProvidence Journal click here.
Homelessness
Veterans Journal: Number of homeless vets drops by nearly half since 2010
November 11, 2018
Veteran homelessness in the U.S. continues to decline, according to a national estimate.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report released on Nov. 1 found that the total number of reported veterans as homeless in 2018 decreased 5.4 percent since last year and fell to nearly half the number of homeless veterans reported in 2010.
In announcing the latest annual estimate, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said that communities are reporting fewer veterans in their shelters and on their streets. Exhibit 1.7 of the report shows that, among all states, Rhode Island is listed in the top 10, with 1,180 homeless and 69 unsheltered.
To read the full article, featured in Providence Journal, click here.
_________________________________
Emmanuel House homeless give back to the volunteers who serve them
September 27, 2018
PROVIDENCE — For one evening, those who assist the poor and homeless were themselves served by the least of these.
“We’re doing this to give back,” Jose Rivera said as he helped to serve hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments outside the Emmanuel House homeless shelter on Public Street.
On Sept. 13, Rivera and several of the other men who have been staying at Emmanuel House served meals to dozens of local parishioners and volunteers who every month donate food and their time to the shelter.
“The guys here are all so very thankful. Every time I come here, I hear about how the people from St. Patrick’s came and helped out, or the people from St. Gregory came and helped out,” said James Jahnz, the emergency services, Catholic Charities and social ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Providence.
To view the full article, featured in Rhode Island Catholic, click here.
_________________________________
Reed announces $124K to support homeless veterans in R.I.
September 21, 2018
PROVIDENCE — The PVD Housing Authority and North Providence Housing Authority will receive a total of $123,704 in federal funds to help homeless veterans find affordable housing.
The funding is through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Housing program, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., announced Sept. 14.
Veterans accepted into the HUD-VASH program, which combines HUD rental assistance for homeless veterans with VA case-management and supportive services, receive vouchers that allow them to rent privately owned housing while receiving services that help them stay housed.
To view the full article, featured in Providence Business News, click here.
Partner News:
Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless is excited to announce the beginning of our Strategic Planning Process! To make this as effective and impactful as possible, we will be seeking input from RICH members and stakeholders at two upcoming events:
Please click the above links to register. Constituents are warmly welcomed. In addition to these feedback sessions, RICH will send surveys and host constituent-specific focus groups.
HousingWorks RI at RWU released the 2018 Housing Fact Book on Friday, October 19th at the annual luncheon. This year’s edition includes an expanded look into regional affordability, and a look at various statewide indicators.
