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5/1/2025
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Speaker Shekarchi addresses housing issues at RI Mortgage Bankers forum
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 WARWICK – In response to the ongoing housing crisis, the Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association (RIMBA) hosted a special networking event, featuring remarks from House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, to spotlight solutions and opportunities within the housing sector on Monday, April 28th, at Chelo’s of Warwick.
RIMBA invited members of the public, policymakers, and housing professionals to attend “State of the State of Housing: Turning Crisis into Opportunity”. The evening featured insightful discussions from state leaders and housing advocates, as well as an opportunity to network with others in the industry.
“Thank you to the Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers for creating a forum to talk about one of Rhode Island’s most pressing issues: our housing shortage. Since I’ve been Speaker, we have passed almost 50 new housing laws,” said Speaker Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “While the work is far from over, we are seeing real progress: after years of ranking dead last in the country for new housing construction, Rhode Island had a 70% increase in building permits sought from 2022 to 2023. We also created Rhode Island’s first-ever court calendar specifically dedicated to housing and land use, and in the year since it was established, the backlog of pending court cases relating to those issues has been cut nearly in half.”
Deborah Goddard, Secretary of the Rhode Island Department of Housing, also highlighted strategies and plans to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.
Benjamin Pettit, Esq., President of RIMBA, commented on the significance of the event, stating, “The availability and affordability of housing here in Rhode Island is a critical issue that leaves virtually no one and no place in our state untouched by it. We all understand that the core issue is lack of supply, but the identification of the right solutions is not nearly as simple as the identification of the problem itself. Last night, the Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association hosted the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Joseph Shekarchi and the Secretary of Housing for the State of Rhode Island, Deborah Goddard to discuss this crucial topic and to share their thoughts on the solutions as well as the obstacles standing in the way. We thank the Speaker and the Secretary for taking time out of their busy schedules to speak with our members and colleagues. The RIMBA reach extends to the highest levels of government and we remain fully committed to our mission of advancing the interests of the mortgage lending community through our legislative efforts, educational programs, collaboration with industry partners, and promotion of homeownership.”
RIMBA was founded in 1986 to be a voice for a group of firms that were new to Rhode Island—mortgage bankers and brokers. RIMBA has advocated for its members on legislation and regulation that affected their business, building a solid, working relationship with both the state General Assembly and Department of Business Regulation. In addition to the organization’s contributions to the mortgage industry, RIMBA is also committed to supporting the charitable and non-profit community.
About Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association
The Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association is dedicated to promoting and sustaining responsible home lending in Rhode Island. The mortgage association has over 90 corporate members, which represent thousands of mortgage lenders throughout the state who help businesses and people secure mortgages. As part of its overarching plan to create a better housing market, RIMBA regularly promotes educational initiatives, addresses legislative challenges, and strives to cultivate membership growth. For more information about RIMBA, visit rimba.org.
For more information, contact:
Emily Martineau, Deputy Director of Communications for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 323
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2466
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