Affordable Housing Solutions Highlighted at Washington County Policy Breakfast
HOPKINTON – On October 30, community stakeholders gathered at The Haversham in Westerly for a policy breakfast titled “Housing All of Our Neighbors: Creating Affordable Housing in Washington County.” Hosted by Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds: Washington County Health Equity Zone, the event aimed to address the pressing need for affordable housing in the region.
The breakfast commenced with remarks from Alison Croke, CEO of Wood River Health, followed by a keynote address by Brenda Clement, executive director of HousingWorksRI. Clement provided crucial insights into the housing crisis in Rhode Island, highlighting that no municipality in the state allows a household earning under $100,000 to afford a home based on the HousingWorks RI Fact Book.
Melina Lodge, representing Homes RI, discussed Ballot Measure 3, which seeks to introduce a $120 million housing and community opportunity bond to improve housing affordability. This bond was recently approved by Rhode Island voters, indicating public support for addressing housing challenges.
Croke then moderated a panel featuring local leaders, including representatives from the WARM Center, South County Habitat for Humanity, the Women’s Development Corp., and the Westerly Town Planner. The discussion focused on the barriers to establishing affordable housing while also sharing effective strategies that could be replicated throughout the community.
Kristen Frady, program manager for Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds, emphasized the collaborative spirit present at the forum. “The turnout and collaboration are a testament to the community’s commitment to creating lasting solutions for housing,” she stated, underscoring the necessity of collective efforts to ensure that every Washington County resident has access to a home.
For further details, contact Katie Castellani at Castellani@PBN.com.
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Photo credit pbn.com
