2023 -- H 6297

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LC002798

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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 BUILDERS), 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

production of affordable housing; and

     WHEREAS, The National Low Income Housing Coalition reported that Rhode Island has

an availability shortage of 47,758 rental homes for those who earn up to 50 percent of the area

median income (AMI); and

     WHEREAS, Addressing Rhode Island’s affordable housing crisis will require a

collaborative approach from nonprofit organizations, local, state, and federal government, and

private philanthropy; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s coordinated entry system for those experiencing

homelessness stands at a record 1,395 individuals and families in need of affordable housing; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has struggled to provide adequate resources for affordable

housing for youth aging out of foster care and DCYF; and

     WHEREAS, ONE Neighborhood Builders, Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family

Service of Rhode Island, all Rhode Island based 501c3 not-for-profit organizations and

hereinafter referred to as “The Collaborative”, have formed an historic partnership to help address

Rhode Island’s housing crisis; and

     WHEREAS, The Collaborative has secured site control of a 3 acre property located at

330, 350, and 354 Taunton Avenue in East Providence, Rhode Island, and has developed a plan to

build 160 units of affordable housing that will serve -- amongst other residents -- youth aging out

of foster care and DCYF supervision, families who are at risk of or are involved with DCYF due

to a lack of affordable housing, backlogged applicants to the coordinated entry system for the

homeless, and low- to moderate-income individuals and families; and

     WHEREAS, The Collaborative will construct an early learning center on the ground-

floor and will lease the space to a qualified nonprofit operator, thereby providing more families

access to high-quality childcare; and

     WHEREAS, This significant development will make an immediate impact on the supply

of affordable housing in Rhode Island, particularly for some of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable

populations; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of twenty eight million dollars

($28,000,000) to Olneyville Housing Corporation (dba ONE Neighborhood Builders), in

partnership with Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family Service of Rhode Island, to develop

the property located at 330, 350, and 354 Taunton Avenue in East Providence into 160 urgently

needed affordable apartments; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from

time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

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 BUILDERS), 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

Olneyville Housing Corporation (dba ONE Neighborhood Builders), in partnership with

Crossroads RI, Foster Forward, and Family Service of Rhode Island.

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LC002798

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