WE THANK THE NARRAGANSETT TOWN COUNCIL FOR REVISITING THE ORDINANCE RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN A HOME

Homes RI, a coalition of over 70 organizations working to ensure that everyone has a safe, healthy, and affordable home, thanks the Narragansett Town Council for revisiting the ordinance restricting the number of people living in a home. Housing is scarce. Affordable housing is extremely scarce. Households earning the state’s median renter household income of $32,361, cannot affordably rent in any Rhode Island city or town (HousingWorks RI Factbook, 2020). This is compounded by the state’s economy facing tremendous shocks as a result of COVID-19 and thousands of Rhode Islanders at risk of losing their homes.

When the supply of housing is decreased through ordinances like these, the price of housing increases. The Narragansett Times said that this specific ordnance will take more than 25% of the housing off the market. Furthermore, these ordinances exacerbate existing inequities. They disproportionately impact students that come from low-income families, and students that already face housing discrimination because of race, gender, or identifying as LGBTQ, and those students that are the first in their family to attend university.

In Rhode Island, 80 percent of low-income renters are cost burdened, paying more than 30% of their income towards housing. More than half of those residents are paying more than 50%. This can mean that sometimes rent eats first (HousingWorks RI Factbook, 2020).

Further limiting housing options, when there is already extremely limited supply, is not an equitable way forward. If the intent was to make housing more safe, this ordinance does not achieve that objective. The path to ensuring that Narragansett residents do not live in overcrowded homes is increasing the supply of affordable homes.

Again, Homes RI is thankful that the Town Council is revisiting this ordinance. We are hopeful that the city can implement more thoughtful solutions to address the scarcity of housing, which will benefit year-round residents and the students who contribute to the town’s economy alike.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, CONSIDER ATTENDING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HERE.