Rhode Island (including Charlestown) continues to have an affordable housing crisis

Rhode Island continues to fall short in providing affordable homes for low-income renters

A new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) finds that there are just 54 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households in Rhode Island.

The report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, also reveals a national shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households – those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater – resulting in just 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households nationwide.

That’s a gap of 23,222 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters in Rhode Island.

These findings come amidst ongoing attacks on federal housing resources.

“The annual Gap report reflects what too many Rhode Islanders are living every day: rents that stretch paychecks beyond their limits and impossible choices between housing, food, medicine, and other basic needs,” said Melina Lodge, Executive Director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island.¹ “We are still not producing enough homes affordable to residents with the lowest incomes, leaving families without the stability they need to thrive. At a time when federal housing resources are increasingly uncertain, we must recommit to reversing decades of underinvestment and restrictive land use policies and expand deeply affordable housing so people can count on a safe, stable place to call home.”

House Speaker continues to push for more affordable housing in Rhode Island

Speaker Shekarchi announces his sixth package of housing bills

Steve Ahlquist

Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced his 2026 housing legislation package, his sixth since becoming Speaker in 2021. You can watch the video here.

“Our advocacy is working: Rhode Island is becoming a model for housing policy in other states,” said Speaker Shekarchi. “We’ve passed more than 60 new housing laws that are having real results. The creation of a new land-use court calendar reduced the backlog of pending cases by nearly half within its first year of implementation. It’s no coincidence that reducing red tape has led to a significant rise in building permits. In 2023, we had a 70% rise in building permits, the most in a single year since the Great Recession.

“But building takes time, and we are still trying to play catch-up for all the years that Rhode Island was dead last in the country for new housing starts. While Rhode Island remains a relatively affordable option for people moving here from other states, our own residents are too often priced out of the neighborhoods they grew up in. The sad reality is that there is a direct correlation between rising housing costs and increased homelessness. This winter alone, at least four people froze to death because they were unhoused. That is completely unacceptable. Until all of our neighbors have a safe place to sleep at night, this work must continue.”

The announced bills are:

• Infill subdivision for housing: Upon passage, this legislation would allow property owners in areas with water and sewer capacity to subdivide property for single-family residential development under certain limited conditions and requirements.
• Parking maximums: Upon passage, this legislation would establish maximum parking requirements for multifamily housing in areas accessible by public transit. It follows initiatives in other states in reducing parking requirements.
• Homeless Bill of Rights: Upon passage, this legislation would add a requirement to Rhode Island’s existing Homeless Bill of Rights that at least a 15-day notice be given to individuals/families affected by the disbanding of an encampment, subject to emergency and safety exceptions.
• SAFE bill: Upon passage, this legislation would enable cities and towns to allow Supportive and Functional Emergency units (“SAFE Units,” such as Pallet shelters) to operate temporarily during an emergency declaration. This legislation would enable cities and towns to respond quickly in the event of severe weather and/or natural or manufactured disasters.
• Single staircase: Upon passage, this legislation would amend the state building code to allow single-staircase construction in residential buildings up to four floors and 16 units, but the construction would remain subject to all applicable fire code requirements.
• Technical amendments: This legislation is based on feedback received by the Land Use Commission and various stakeholders, including local municipalities, developers, planners, and other advocates. The legislation seeks to clarify and amend the processes, terms, references, and requirements outlined in the Zoning Enabling Act, Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Act, and Subdivision Act.
• Vacant land/properties: Upon passage, this legislation would allow the adaptive reuse of state-owned vacant buildings by right. The legislation would enable the redevelopment/adaptive reuse of vacant municipal buildings into housing and also amend the redevelopment program to convert municipal schools.
• Commission to study and review the Condominium Act: Upon passage, this legislation would establish a commission to study potential modernization of and updates to the state’s Condominium Act, which has not been reviewed or amended in more than a decade.
• Affordable housing tax assessment and valuation: Upon passage, this legislation would impose limits on tax rates for new construction of residential rental units that include certain percentages of affordable housing in either new construction or adaptive reuse projects.

The legislation has also been influenced by two housing commissions established by Speaker Shekarchi. Some of the announced legislation would amend existing housing laws based on feedback from these commissions.

Charlestown's Senator Victoria Gu comes up with compromise on accessory dwellings

Will Ruth Platner's proxy now go along?

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

Victoria puts her back into helping So. County Habitat
build affordable housing on Legislator Volunteer
Day (photo by David DelPoio, Prov Journal)

Big opposition to tiny houses last year took down a legislative attempt to make it easier to build in-law apartments, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Now in the home stretch of the 2024 legislative session, a compromise has emerged. Even municipal naysayers backed the amended legislation introduced by Sen. Victoria Gu, a Westerly Democrat, during a May 16 State House hearing.

At first glance, Gu’s version of the ADU bill appears similar to one spearheaded by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, which passed in the House earlier this year. But the tweaks to building and property size limits, alongside extra powers to cities and towns to set owner occupancy and minimum lease length requirements, have assuaged some of the harshest critics.

“Really, what we want to do is to keep as much local control as possible, giving municipalities the tools to expand ADUs based on their circumstances,” Jane Weidman, Charlestown town planner and chair of the American Planning Association Rhode Island chapter’s legislative subcommittee testified before the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government on May 16 in support of Gu’s legislation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Weidman was recruited to Charlestown by CCA leader and Planning Commissar Ruth Platner after Weidman was fired by Block Island. Weidman generally speaks only for Platner and not necessarily on behalf of Charlestown (in my opinion).  - Will Collette

Unlike the House version, which was put forth without input from town planners, Gu’s version sought their feedback well before a formal proposal was introduced, Weidman said. The effort began as soon as the 2023 legislative session ended, with monthly meetings among lawmakers, planners, housing advocates and other stakeholders.

Revenue for Rhode Island coalition looking to tax the one percent

Time to tax the rich 

By Steve Ahlquist

The Revenue for Rhode Island coalition kicked off their 2022 campaign today to “raise revenue for the state by adding one new tax bracket – at a marginal rate of 8.99% (in place of the current top rate of 5.99%) on income above $500,000, ensuring the top 1% of earners are contributing their fair share. 

The legislation, S2264, sponsored by Senator Melissa Murray (Democrat, District 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield), and H7440, sponsored by Representative Karen Alzate (Democrat, District 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls), is estimated to raise $144.5 million in new tax revenue, and would only impact the top 1% of tax filers.”

“The gap between the rich and poor continues to widen due to decades of policies that have helped the rich get richer,” stated Senate bill sponsor Senator Murray. 

Thousands of Rhode Islanders face eviction at a time when affordable housing is scarce

New report shows housing is out of reach for many in RI

By  HomesRI

In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent in Rhode Island, full-time workers need to earn $21.16 per hour. This is Rhode Island’s situation, revealed in a national report released today. 

The report, Out of Reach, was released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a research and advocacy organization dedicated solely to achieving affordable and decent homes for the lowest income people, and Homes RI.

“When the definition of home has changed for so many Rhode Islanders, and the trends remain the same – housing is out of reach for low-wage workers and other extremely low-income renters – the time for viable, long-term housing solutions is now,” said Brenda Clement, Director of HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University.

This year, we release the Out of Reach report during a time when coronavirus has clearly illustrated that housing is healthcare. The mandate to “stay at home” was echoed by top officials across the country.

However, having a stable home was out of reach for millions of people before the pandemic, and more than 7.7 million extremely low-income renters were spending more than half of their limited incomes on housing costs, sacrificing other necessities to do so.

“When we see the alarming gap between real Rhode Island wages and the housing wage, we see that the need for long-term, sustained State investment in housing is great,” said Melina Lodge, Executive Director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island.

“And that was before COVID. More than ever, Rhode Island needs bold and ambitious investment in affordable housing.”

FAQ about this year’s election

Voting in Charlestown – Basic things to know By Will Collette 

RED: Precinct 501: Meadowbrook Inn (Carolina 

Back Road near Old Mill Road)

GREEN: Precinct 502: Town Hall

YELLOW: Precinct 503: Police Station

BLUE: Precinct 504: Ambulance Barn 

(just east of the police station)

When is Election Day? 

November 6. That’s TODAY. You can vote between 7 AM and 8 PM. 

Are you registered to vote? 

More than 90% of Charlestown residents are registered. Click here to see if you are registered. But if you’re not among that number, you can still cast a ballot for President (but no other office) on Election Day. Go to Town Hall.

Do you know where you are supposed to vote? 

We have four precincts and therefore four voting places this year. Most Charlestown residents will be voting in a different place than in 2008 and 2010. Click here again because this link will also tell you where you are supposed to vote. Also check out this map, also shown on this page.

Do I need to show ID? 

You will be asked to state your name and then to show an ID. Yes, it sucks and I wish Rhode Island didn’t fall for this unnecessary voter suppression gimmick, but until it is overturned by legal challenge, bring an ID. Click here to see a list of acceptable forms of ID.

Can I vote in Charlestown if I own a vacation home in Sonquiquag? 

In my opinion, the only good thing about RI’s new voter ID law is that it will make it harder for nonresidents to vote. Contrary to what the Charlestown Citizens Alliance or RI Statewide Coalition may preach, you actually have to live in RI to vote in RI, not just own property. So if all you have for ID is a Florida or Connecticut or Massachusetts driver’s license, you should go there to vote, not here. Besides, Charlestown’s nonresidents have already cast their “ballots” by funding the CCA’s 2012 election campaign.

How to pick the right team

A little mnemonic help

By Scott Keeley (a version of this letter ran in the Westerly Sun; printed with permission of the author

As a relative newcomer to idyllic Charlestown, Rhode Island, I was surprised to witness, over the last few years, a town council that has publicly pursued personal vendettas, demonized mere thoughts of wind power or affordable housing, and blithely abused the power of office with special-interest real-estate deals and corrupt vendor contracts.

George Tremblay: now it’s BILLIONAIRE elderly embezzlers

Tremblay throws the baby AND her grandma out with the bathwater

By Will Collette

CCA Town Council candidate George Tremblay has decided to again start pumping his crackpot theory that affordable housing will attract wealthy elderly people intent on ripping off everybody else by moving into affordable senior citizens housing. You’ve just got to read his latest off-the-charts missive in the Westerly Sun’s Letters to the Editor column.

This is becoming truly embarrassing. First, Tremblay wasted town resources and a lot of people’s time on a disturbingly bad “research[1]” report on affordable housing. Tremblay ended up writing the report himself even though the Town Council actually authorized spending town money to hire a consultant to do the research and write the report.

CCA adds affordable housing for the elderly to list of things they hate

CCA Council candidate George Tremblay launches all out attack on imaginary elderly housing cheats

By Will Collette

As predicted, CCA-endorsed Planning Commissioner (and CCA candidate for Town Council) George Tremblay rolled out his “research” on affordable housing at the Planning Commission’s September 26 meeting.

Tremblay, who touts his credentials as a scientific researcher, produced a thoroughly biased “report” whose “findings” could have been predicted last January when Tremblay started pushing for a study that would validate the anti-affordable housing position of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance.

While it is no surprise that Tremblay produced a report that supported his preconceived conclusions, Tremblay added a whole new layer of bizarre to the increasingly outlandish positions the CCA and its candidates are taking as we get closer to the November 6 Election.

Tremblay revealed that he has discovered yet another threat to Charlestown’s bucolic rural slumber – predatory millionaire senior citizens.

Spotlight on George Tremblay

Planning Commission will hear Tremblay's theories about affordable housing and senior citizen millionaires who cheat at Wednesday meeting

By Will Collette

When George Tremblay ran for Planning Commission in 2010, he told Charlestown voters about his career as a scientific researcher and his decision to dedicate his service to the town through the Planning Commission. For that, voters rewarded him with a six-year term.

But after less than two years on the Planning Commission, Tremblay is now a candidate for Town Council on the CCA slate, perhaps emulating ex-Gov. Sarah Palin, running mate to Sen. John McCain, whose campaign Tremblay supported in 2008[1].

At the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, September 26, we get the rollout of a sample of Tremblay’s research, his long-awaited study on Low and Moderate Income Housing in Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton and Exeter. Is affordable housing a threat or a menace to our rural way of life, a conspiracy by wealthy senior citizens or simply an annoyance to Tremblay and his colleagues in the Charlestown Citizens Alliance?

Batting order determined for Planning Commission candidates

Can’t tell the players without a scorecard

By Will Collette

Charlestown is the only town among the 39 cities and towns of Rhode Island that still elects its Planning Commission. State law requires planning boards to be appointed, to take the politics out of the process, but Charlestown insists it has the “grandfathered” right[1] to keep electing its Planning Commissioners.

While you can never reasonably expect to take the politics out of Planning, Charlestown is the only town that actively and deliberately makes its Planning Commission a totally political animal. And we have paid the price. But since this is the system we have, expect a lively contest for election to the Commission with the candidates arranged on the ballot in the following order:

Planning Commission covers its “B-List” at July 25 meeting

Road bond refund, light poles, open space and affordable housing

By Will Collette

After a short hiatus, Charlestown’s version of political root canal, the Planning Commission, returned to action on July 25. Barely.

The Commission assembled a quorum with four of its seven members present. They actually lacked the three member quorum they needed to approve their last set of minutes (you have to have attended the meeting to vote to approve the minutes).

On board for the July 25 meeting: Planning Commissar Ruth Platner, her top lieutenant Linda Fabre (who is moving out of Charlestown), George Tremblay (who has his eye on a Town Council seat) and Alternate Joann Stolle, who brings her style sense and shingle collection to the table. Stolle’s term is up in November, but she is not running for re-election.

Gordon Foer, who is running for re-election, was not present. Neither was Jim Abbott, another member whose term is up but is not seeking to return. Kathryn O’Connor was also absent.

NEW NUMBERS: The List

All Charlestown local candidates have at least 50 certified signatures posted on the Secretary of State website
By Will Collette

As of Wednesday noon, all Charlestown candidate have filed enough certified Charlestown voter signatures on their Nomination papers to qualify for the November ballot. Yesterday, Dr. Jack Donoghue shows only 12 certified signatures, but today, that number is up to 102!

The deadline for town candidates to file at least 50 valid signatures was 4 PM on Friday the Thirteenth. Even though the deadline has now passed, this tally is not necessarily final.

According to the Secretary of State's manual for candidates, the final number is posted on July 19 (tomorrow).

Some candidates may have submitted signatures right before the deadline. Those names are not reflected in the tally. The final Secretary of State count is supposed to be posted on Thursday.

To track the list for yourself, go to the RI Secretary of State's database by clicking here. Then, under City/Town, pick Charlestown from the pull-down menu.

The last column of numbers is the number of names our Town Board of Canvassers have certified as valid and sent on to the state.

Keep reading for the count as Sunday afternoon.

Democrats announce their endorsed candidates for 2012

New leadership for Charlestown

By Will Collette

If you mosey over to the newly redesigned website of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (still under construction, BTW), you’ll see their announcement of the slate of candidates who will be running on the Democratic ticket.

Updated: The Planning Commission's Blacklist

UPDATED: Planning Commission turns down qualified candidate

Seems like she didn't charge enough, or is it something else?

By Will Collette

An update on this continuing story: at the Monday, May 14 Town Council meeting, the Council approved spending up to $4888 to hire an intern who will do various special projects, including Planning Commission member George Tremblay's pet project - cooking data on affordable housing to prove the state's law isn't working.


Council President Boss Tom Gentz told Town Planner Ashley Hahn-Morris that he wanted Tremblay's project (described in more detail below) to be the intern's top priority. Tremblay describes his plan in much greater detail on the CCA's "Oppressive Charlestown" blog - click here. If you read on and see Tremblay's e-mails on this project, this intern is in for a pretty rough summer.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Last December 7, a months-long struggle over Charlestown’s position on affordable housing came to a head. Throughout much of 2011, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance’s elected town officials, Planning Commissar Ruth Platner and Town Council President Boss Tom Gentz, had been pushing a radical agenda that would have Charlestown lead a mob of rural Rhode Island towns in an effort to repeal the state’s affordable housing law.