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6/20/2025
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Assembly OKs creation of Housing Champion program for municipalities
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly today approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. June S. Speakman to create a Housing Champion program to reward municipalities that are actively working to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
“For the longest time our state housing policy has been missing an incentive for cities and towns to proactively adopt policies to encourage the production of housing,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). “This bill would provide that incentive through a program that is modeled after successful ones in Massachusetts and other states. Addressing our housing crisis is a team effort, and this program would encourage a collaborative and productive approach to addressing Rhode Island’s housing needs.”
Said Representative Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol), who leads the House Commission on Housing Affordability, “In our commission, we often hear from municipal leaders that Rhode Island needs incentives that encourage affordable housing — carrots rather than sticks. The Housing Champion designation would foster cooperation between municipal and state agencies, rewarding the communities that work on zoning reform and encourage development of the ‘missing middle’ of housing — starter homes, development that is a bit more dense, multifamily homes and other homes that Rhode Islanders can afford. The program would be voluntary, but it would motivate communities to say yes more often to the development of the homes we need.”
The legislation (2025-H 5229Aaa, 2025-S 0495A) establishes a voluntary designation of Rhode Island Housing Champion granted by the Department of Housing to municipalities that choose to apply. Cities and towns granted this designation would receive preferential access to state resources, including discretionary state funds.
Criteria for acquiring this designation would be determined by the Department of Housing, which would develop a scoring system that includes factors such as land use regulations and ordinances designed to promote housing, the training of planning and zoning board members, planned or completed sewer and water infrastructure improvements and planned or completed sidewalks, bike lanes or other infrastructure intended to support walkable or bikeable neighborhoods and public transportation.
The legislation is supported by Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Deborah J. Goddard, who testified that “by encouraging collaboration and recognizing achievement, [this bill] provides an important tool in addressing Rhode Island’s housing needs.”
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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