2023 -- H 6297
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LC002798
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $28,000,000 TO OLNEYVILLE HOUSING
CORPORATION (DBA ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER S), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CROSSROADS RI, FOSTER FORWARD, AND FAMILY SERVICE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Dawson, Casimiro, Henries, and Speakman
Date Introduced: April 19, 2023
Referred To: House Finance
WHEREAS, Rhode Island is experiencing a crisis as it relates to the availability and 1
production of affordable housing; and 2
WHEREAS, The National Low Income Housing Coalition reported that Rhode Island has 3
an availability shortage of 47,758 rental homes for those who earn up to 50 percent of the area 4
median income (AMI); and 5
WHEREAS, Addressing Rhode Island’s affordable housing crisis will require a 6
collaborative approach from nonprofit organizations, local, state, and federal government, and 7
private philanthropy; and 8
WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s coordinated entry system for those experiencing 9
homelessness stands at a record 1,395 individuals and families in need of affordable housing; and 10
WHEREAS, Rhode Island has struggled to provide adequate resources for affordable 11
housing for youth aging out of foster care and DCYF; and 12
WHEREAS, ONE Neighborhood Builders, Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family 13
Service of Rhode Island, all Rhode Island based 501c3 not-for-profit organizations and 14
hereinafter referred to as “The Collaborative”, have formed an historic partnership to help address 15
Rhode Island’s housing crisis; and 16
WHEREAS, The Collaborative has secured site control of a 3 acre property located at 17
330, 350, and 354 Taunton Avenue in East Providence, Rhode Island, and has developed a plan to 18
build 160 units of affordable housing that will serve -- amongst other residents -- youth aging out 19
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of foster care and DCYF supervision, families who are at risk of or are involved with DCYF due 1
to a lack of affordable housing, backlogged applicants to the coordinated entry system for the 2
homeless, and low- to moderate-income individuals and families; and 3
WHEREAS, The Collaborative will construct an early learning center on the ground-4
floor and will lease the space to a qualified nonprofit operator, thereby providing more families 5
access to high-quality childcare; and 6
WHEREAS, This significant development will make an immediate impact on the supply 7
of affordable housing in Rhode Island, particularly for some of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable 8
populations; now, therefore be it 9
RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 10
otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of twenty eight million dollars 11
($28,000,000) to Olneyville Housing Corporation (dba ONE Neighborhood Builders), in 12
partnership with Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family Service of Rhode Island, to develop 13
the property located at 330, 350, and 354 Taunton Avenue in East Providence into 160 urgently 14
needed affordable apartments; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw 15
his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from 16
time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. 17
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LC002798 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $28,000,000 TO OLNEYVILLE HOUSING
CORPORATION (DBA ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER S), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CROSSROADS RI, FOSTER FORWARD, AND FAMILY SERVICE OF RHODE ISLAND
***
This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $28,000,000 to 1
Olneyville Housing Corporation (dba ONE Neighborhood Builders), in partnership with 2
Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family Service of Rhode Island. 3
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