City's Affordable Housing Gets $2M Boost

Woonsocket is poised to receive nearly $2 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve low-income housing in the city.

The grant is part of a larger $12 million disbursement awarded to communities throughout Rhode Island. Sen. Jack Reed announced the awards Tuesday, noting 25 Rhode Island public housing authorities will receive the funds through the Public Housing Capital Fund Program in an effort to help improve and develop affordable rental housing throughout the state. Local agencies can use the
funding for a variety of improvements, from replacing roofs and windows, to enhancing electrical and plumbing systems, to improving lighting and security.

“These are tough times, and this is a much needed investment in improving affordable housing in communities throughout Rhode Island," Reed said in a release. "These federal funds could help put Rhode Island contractors, plumbers, and electricians to work making needed repairs that will upgrade neighborhoods across the state.”

Federal affordable housing initiatives help millions of low-income, disabled, senior citizens, and families while stabilizing neighborhoods throughout America, Reed noted. The properties are administered by local housing agencies, which receive federal aid to manage the housing of low-income residents at rents they can afford. There are about 9,500 public housing units in Rhode Island.

Woonsocket will receive the second-highest total of municipalities in the state, behind only Providence, which was granted more than $3 million. Public Housing Agencies in the following cities and towns will receive funding:

• Bristol: $178,177
• Burrillville: $85,962
• Central Falls: $337,388
• Coventry: $187,794
• Cranston: $575,742
• Cumberland: $148,097
• East Greenwich: $31,972
• East Providence: $436,912
• Jamestown: $29,334
• Johnston: $161,701
• Lincoln: $238,576
• Narragansett: $14,073
• Newport: $1,629,705
• North Providence: $120,418
• Pawtucket: $1,326,913
• Portsmouth: $39,205
• Providence: $3,453,042
• Smithfield: $52,913
• South Kingston: $103,818
• Tiverton: $43,159
• Warren: $136,801
• Warwick: $499,155
• West Warwick: $231,787
• Westerly: $116,361
• Woonsocket: $1,902,701.