One major challenge facing Rhode Island is the housing crisis. A serious lack of available homes has fueled price wars, not only statewide, but also, nationally. “Sticker Shock” can jolt buyers and renters into paying more than they can comfortably afford. Leaving others to continue searching for their new “home.”
It can be demoralizing for those who cannot afford either their current mortgage or rent payments. Other necessities like utilities, real estate taxes, and property insurance have skyrocketed over the last few years, further increasing housing costs. Covid-19 and supply-chain issues have increased the costs of many other goods and services. This has placed many households stuck in a situation, where hard choices must be made regarding basic needs over wants.
That is where a Cumberland-based, non-profit organization steps in to assist people with their housing needs. The Valley Affordable Housing Corp. (VAHC), located at 1029 Mendon Road, works to identify areas where housing units can be created around the state. Although their focus is primarily in northern Rhode Island, they search the state to locate opportunities that could be transformed into apartments for those looking for a home.
Valley’s new executive director, Jeffrey Swanson, said that he believes, first and foremost, our
state needs more housing of all types.
“Statewide, there are very few homes for sale and not many available vacant apartments for people to move into,” Swanson said.
He recently became the new executive director of VAHC and Pinnacle Property Management (PPM). “As a result, I have observed the desperate need that exists everywhere for affordable housing around Rhode Island. While there has been a shortage of affordable housing for decades, in recent years, it has become a crisis. Valley’s mission is to create housing, so people can have some place to call home.”
Swanson laid out the goals he and his six-member Board want to achieve in the coming months and years. They include:
- Reviewing the organization, so that it will remain on solid footing for the next 30 years.
- Increasing the number of apartments owned and managed by VAHC & PPM, from 566 to over 1,000.
- Bringing services and events to those in permanent housing. Those could include: blood pressure screenings, farmer’s market, scam prevention, and other programs.
Swanson said that despite the known housing shortage, many communities are unwilling to approve new housing projects, particularly housing defined as “affordable.” There are fears that cities and towns will be flooded with outsiders, schools will become overcrowded, and traffic will become impossible.
Swanson said that the housing problem is much more widespread than people think. “The median price for a house in RI is currently around $430,000. Nearly half of the households in Rhode Island, about 48 percent, are cost burdened. The cost of everything has risen dramatically. With salaries not keeping up, it has created more issues for people to make ends meet.”
Valley Affordable Housing Corp. searches for land that could be converted into housing. While the idea is noble, finding property around Rhode Island suitable to build has been problematic. Cherise Miller, Valley’s Director of Property Management, said that many of the lots that are appropriate to build on are already sold. There is also the anxiety of neighborhoods not wanting affordable housing near them, and often cite the previously-mentioned reasons as to why. Finding somewhere to build units for people in need of someplace to live becomes a delicate balancing act.
As for new projects, Swanson and Miller mentioned the former Lincoln Memorial School in Lincoln as one place they plan to repackage into affordable housing units. The property has not been used for some time—about 15 years. Once it was deemed worthy of a makeover, VAHC will transform the school into 26 affordable housing units.
In addition to their fees collected from their work, VAHC seeks additional funding at the local and federal grant levels. They are interested in speaking with anyone involved with those areas of expertise.
As Board President Paul Gagne succinctly puts it, “We want to make Rhode Island a better place for families and residents.”
They also have a summer youth program that enables high school students to work with them and gain professional experience. Students receive valuable skills that could be applied throughout their professional career. Occasionally, VAHC hires them for full-time employment.
Besides Swanson, Miller, and Gagne, the Board includes Edward Mulholland, who has been with the organization since it was founded, and he also served as former chair. Other board members include: Lisa Audette, Vice President; Joanne Buttie, Director; Carol Marrocco, Director, and Paul Dumouchel, Director.
Valley Affordable Housing Corp., is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, created nearly 30 years ago, to develop, own, and manage, safe, sanitary, and suitable affordable housing properties for income- qualifying individuals. VAHC is an independent and self-sufficient organization that continues to completely support and finance its operations, with development and management fees it earns, through its activities.
More information about the group may be obtained by calling them at 401-334-2802. Or, visit their website at https://www.valleyaffordable.org/.
