Governor Dan McKee and Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard on Tuesday announced the opening of applications for the first wave of programs funded by Rhode Island’s $120 million housing bond, with $81 million now available to municipalities and developers.
The bond, approved by voters in 2024, aims to address the state’s housing crisis by expanding homeownership opportunities, building and preserving affordable housing, and providing resources to help meet the administration’s Housing 2030 goals.
“Rhode Island isn’t just talking about the housing crisis; we’re building our way out of it,” McKee said in announcing the program launches.
Applications are now open for two immediate programs: the Housing 2030 Infrastructure Program, which provides up to $8 million for essential infrastructure like water, sewer, and road improvements that enable new housing development; and the Housing 2030 Municipal Planning Program, offering up to $1 million to help municipalities with architectural and engineering work for strategic housing projects.
On Thursday, the McKee Administration will open its One-Stop Application process through RIHousing, making an additional $66 million available through six programs targeting affordable rental housing, permanent supportive housing, small-scale developments, preservation of existing affordable units, and the acquisition and revitalization of foreclosed or blighted properties.
Applications for the Housing 2030 Statewide Home Repair Program, which will provide up to $6 million in assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and qualifying landlords, will open November 15. The Providence Revolving Fund will administer that program.
Secretary Goddard said infrastructure challenges remain among the biggest barriers to housing production, prompting the administration to double the original $4 million allocation for the infrastructure program to $8 million.
“Collaboration and flexibility are essential, and we’ll continue to make adjustments like this to advance Rhode Island’s housing goals,” Goddard said.
A second wave of programs totaling $39 million will launch in the coming months, including up to $20 million for homeownership initiatives, $10 million for public development, $4 million for a pipeline expeditor fund, and $5 million for site acquisition.
The Executive Office of Housing released a request for proposals Tuesday seeking a qualified partner to administer the Site Acquisition Fund, a revolving loan program to help nonprofit developers acquire properties for affordable and supportive housing. Proposals are due November 19.
Legislative leaders praised the bond’s implementation. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi noted the General Assembly has enacted nearly 60 new laws in recent years to streamline housing development and cut red tape.
“This bond…is the critical next step to putting those laws into action, accelerating construction, and delivering real results for Rhode Island families,” Shekarchi said.
Senate President Valarie J. Lawson called the lack of available and affordable housing a crisis “disrupting people’s lives, holding back our economy, and endangering our state’s future.”
Randy Rossi, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, said local governments need this partnership to make housing growth sustainable, particularly given limited staff capacity and aging infrastructure.
For more information on the programs and application processes, visit RIHousing’s website or www.revolvingfund.org for the home repair program.