Avedisian
releases Fair Housing Plan report,
announces appointments to Fair Housing Commission
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian today released the city’s Fair Housing Plan, a comprehensive report, which analyzes the city’s programs and policies related to affordable housing and makes recommendations to improve current practices and implement new procedures and initiatives.
The report, prepared by consultant Dan Cahill, examines a wide variety of data, including demographics, housing stock, resident income and employment, as well as impediments to affordable housing, current programs that are available to address fair housing needs and federal and state requirements.
Overall, Cahill found that there is a need for a formalized approach to address fair housing issues in Warwick as well as increased outreach and educational programs. Expansion of T.F. Green Airport and the large number of homes containing lead-based paint have negatively affected affordable housing stock in Warwick, particularly for large families. The report also suggested a need for greater diversity on boards that impact residential development and taxes, including the Zoning and Property Assessment boards of review.
The report suggests several ways to address the impediments: appointment of a Fair Housing Committee; continued investment in the city’s successful neighborhood redevelopment and lead abatement programs; feasibility projects to increase and maintain affordable housing, such as accessory apartments, expansion of zoning laws and re-use of Rhode Island Airport Corporation properties. A greater diversity on boards and commissions, reduction of planned airport acquisitions of residential property and closer coordination among the Warwick Housing Authority and groups representing disabled people eligible for housing assistance in order to improve assignments of units to the disabled.
The report also noted that the city is “one of few local communities that have focused attention on the issue of affordability. The Mayor appointed an Affordable Housing task Force, which issued a report in 2000. The report included a statement of need, recommendation and resource for homeownership, housing preservation, rental, elderly, homeless, special needs…the committee continues to meet and update their report periodically.”
“In the past decade, the City of Warwick has made strides in providing more affordable housing,” Avedisian said. “This report has provided us with valuable suggestions and guidelines as we move forward with our efforts to ensure that every family has safe and affordable place to live.”
This summer, Avedisian had
established, by Executive Order, the Warwick Fair Housing Committee, whose members
include: Human Services Director Maureen Volpe; Jean Olivier, executive director
of the House of Hope; Sharon Conard-Wells of Majestic Avenue; Judy Earle, a
Warwick Neck resident and executive director of the Elizabeth Buffum Chace House;
and Leah Prata, a resident of West Shore Road.
Copies of the report are available in the Community Development Office, located
on the second floor of the City Hall Annex.