Low And Moderate Income Housing
This bill seeks to enhance the objectives of local housing plans by ensuring that mobile and manufactured homes can be counted toward municipal affordable housing goals. This is significant for communities striving to reach the quota of 10% or 15% of their year-round housing units as affordable. Moreover, it aims to ease the pathways for local governments to meet state-defined housing needs, thus potentially alleviating housing shortages faced by low-income residents.
House Bill 7948 is aimed at amending existing laws related to low and moderate income housing in Rhode Island, specifically focusing on the inclusion of mobile and manufactured homes in the inventory of affordable housing units. It proposes a formula for calculating the number of housing units that meet low and moderate income criteria based on the area median income (AMI). The bill assigns different weights to housing units based on their affordability levels, particularly emphasizing those that significantly cater to low-income households.
There appears to be a mixed sentiment surrounding HB 7948. Supporters, particularly housing advocates, argue that the inclusion of mobile and manufactured homes expands the pool of affordable housing options in the state, thereby helping to address the affordable housing crisis. Meanwhile, critics have raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the proposed amendments in addressing broader issues of housing quality and integration within communities, signaling a need for further debate on the appropriateness of the weightings and definitions provided in the bill.
One point of contention highlighted during discussions of HB 7948 revolves around the criteria for what constitutes 'low and moderate income housing.' The weighting system defined in the bill has garnered scrutiny, with some stakeholders arguing that it may not sufficiently recognize the unique housing challenges faced by different populations. Additionally, there are concerns that the bill does not fully address the support mechanisms necessary to ensure that low-income residents can maintain their housing in the long-term, particularly in light of continued economic pressures.