Affordable Housing Committee

Information About Affordable Housing

State law determines the way affordable housing is defined and the way it is regulated. Generally, the term “affordable housing” means a type of housing that is set aside for low- and moderate-income households. The Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act (1991) sets a goal for each city or town to provide 10 percent of its total housing units to be made affordable. In turn, each city and town is required to develop an affordable housing plan that creates a strategy towards achieving that goal. As of 2022, three percent (3%) of Richmond’s housing units are dedicated to low-and moderate-income households.

By the Numbers

Below is a snapshot of Richmond’s housing data (source - HousingWorksRI 2024 Factbook)

Affordable Housing Strategies

With the assistance of the Affordable Housing Committee, the Planning Board drafts the Comprehensive Community Plan, the blueprint for the town’s long-range development. The Housing Element contained within the Comprehensive Community Plan serves as the town’s affordable housing plan. The Town Council enacts and amends the Comprehensive Plan based on recommendations by the Planning Board.

Current strategies available to the Town of Richmond to encourage affordable housing units to be built:

Comprehensive Permits
State law requires every city and town to approve Comprehensive Permit applications, residential developments in which at least 25 percent of the dwelling units are sold to or occupied by low- or moderate-income families. Comprehensive permit developments are intended to help cities and towns achieve the goals established in their affordable housing plans. The Planning Board reviews applications for Comprehensive Permit developments. The approval process for these developments is different from the approval process for every other type of development. In exchange for providing the low- or moderate-income units, the developer is allowed to deviate from requirements that apply to all other developments, such as the number of dwellings per acre, yard setbacks, or the location of multifamily buildings. State law gives the Planning Board the authority to approve these deviations, which ordinarily would require approval by the Town Council or the Zoning Board of Review. State law also gives the Planning Board the authority to reduce or waive the town fees charged for these developments, including building permit fees.

Awards of Affordable Housing Funds
The Affordable Housing Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Town Council concerning the allocation and award of money in the affordable housing fund established by Ch. 3.08 of the Richmond Code of Ordinances, and for making a recommendation(s) to the Town Council concerning the use of town property for the production of low-or moderate-income housing.

Regulations establishing guidelines for how recommendations are made