2014 -- S 2497

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LC004376

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND HOUSING

RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

     

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Goldin, Cool Rumsey, Metts, and Pichardo

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 42-128-1 and 42-128-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-128

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entitled "Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-128-1. Findings. -- (a) Rhode Island has an older housing stock which contributes

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invaluably to community character, and in order to maintain the stability of neighborhoods and to

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sustain health communities, it is necessary to have programs for housing and community

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development and revitalization.

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      (b) Rhode Island has an active private sector that is engaged in supplying housing.

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      (c) Rhode Island has an active non-profit housing sector, which can, if provided adequate

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support, assist low and moderate income persons and works to improve conditions in

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neighborhoods and communities.

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      (d) Housing that is not adequately maintained is a source of blight in communities and a

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cause of public health problems. Public health and safety are impaired by poor housing

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conditions; poisoning from lead paint and respiratory disease (asthma) are significant housing

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related health problems in Rhode Island.

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      (e) There is an increasing need for supported living arrangements for the elderly and a

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continuing need for supported living arrangements for persons who are disabled and/or homeless.

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      (f) Fair housing, and the potential of unequal treatment of individuals based on race,

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ethnicity, age, disability, and family, must be given continuing attention.

 

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      (g) Housing costs consume a disproportionate share of income for many Rhode

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Islanders; housing affordability is a continuing problem, especially for first time home buyers and

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lower and moderate income renters; the high cost of housing adversely affects the expansion of

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Rhode Island's economy. Housing affordability and availability affect conditions of

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homelessness. The high cost of housing and the lack of affordable, decent housing for low

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income households is a source of hardship for very low income persons and families in Rhode

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Island.

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      (h) The Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, which has provided

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more than two decades of assistance in addressing issues of both the affordability of home

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ownership and rental housing and the preservation of the housing stock for low and moderate

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income persons, is facing future funding shortfalls and must either increase revenues or reduce

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programs in order to remain viable.

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      (i) The federal government has been reducing its commitment to housing since 1981, and

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there is no indication that earlier levels of federal support for housing will be restored.

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      (j) Public housing authorities, which rely on federal support that is being reconsidered,

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have been and continue to be an important housing resource for low income families and the

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elderly.

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      (k) Rhode Island, unlike most other states, does not have an agency or department of

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state government with comprehensive responsibility for housing.

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      (l) It is necessary and desirable in order to protect that public health and to promote the

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public welfare, to establish a housing resources agency and a housing resources commission for

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the purposes of improving housing conditions, promoting housing affordability, engaging in

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community development activities, and assisting the urban, suburban, and rural communities of

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the state.

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     (m) The state, through the housing resources commission and the Rhode Island

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interagency council on homelessness, has adopted the Opening Doors RI: Strategic Plan to

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Prevent and End Homelessness which calls for an increase of eight hundred ninety-eight (898)

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rent subsidized apartments.

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     42-128-5. Purposes. -- The purposes of the commission shall be:

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      (1) To develop and promulgate state policies, and plans, for housing and housing

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production and performance measures for housing programs established pursuant to state law.

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      (2) To coordinate activities among state agencies and political subdivisions pertaining to

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housing.

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      (3) To promote the stability of and quality of life in communities and neighborhoods.

 

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      (4) To provide opportunities for safe, sanitary, decent, adequate and affordable housing

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in Rhode Island.

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      (5) To encourage public-private partnerships that foster the production, rehabilitation,

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development, maintenance, and improvement of housing and housing conditions, especially for

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low and moderate income people.

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      (6) To foster and support no-profit organizations, including community development

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corporations, and their associations and intermediaries, that are engaged in providing and housing

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related services.

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      (7) To encourage and support partnerships between institutions of higher education and

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neighborhoods to develop and retain quality, healthy housing and sustainable communities.

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      (8) To facilitate private for-profit production and rehabilitation of housing for diverse

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populations and income groups.

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      (9) To provide, facilitate, and/or support the provisions of technical assistance.

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     (10) To provide for the housing rental subsidy program to assist in providing safe and

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affordable housing to shelter residents. Funds will be administered by the department of

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administration, office of housing and community development, through the housing resources

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commission.

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     (11) To provide for homeless prevention assistance and housing retention assistance and

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rapid re-housing for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Funds will

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be administered by the department of administration, office of housing and community

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development, through the housing resources commission.

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     SECTION 2. Appropriation. - There is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year 2014-2015,

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three million four hundred thousand dollars ($3,400,000) for the housing rental subsidy program

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and four hundred thirty-nine thousand dollars ($439,000) for homeless prevention and assistance

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for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act, and the state controller is hereby

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authorized to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much

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thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt by him or her of properly

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authenticated vouchers.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND HOUSING

RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

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     This act would appropriate three million four hundred thousand dollars ($3,400,000) for

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the housing rental subsidy program and four hundred thirty-nine thousand dollars ($439,000) for

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homeless prevention and assistance.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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