Trailers can be counted
The legislation is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s
(D-Dist. 23, Warwick) 15-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s
housing crisis.
“Due to various factors over many years, our cities and towns have been unable to meet the 10% affordable housing stock mandate, which in turn hurts our low-income residents and families. This bill will bring many of our municipalities into compliance with the Low and Moderate Income Housing Act while also providing crucial housing for our state’s residents,” said Representative McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
“Ensuring that our municipalities meet the requirement
for affordable housing is vital to our residents and communities. This
legislation will help move the needle toward the 10% obligation required by law
and most importantly, it will help alleviate Rhode Island’s housing crisis,”
said Senator DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport,
Tiverton).
The legislation would allow municipalities to count
mobile home units as affordable housing if they meet certain requirements,
including that they are permanent housing. Mobile homes could be applied toward
the goal of 10% of a municipality’s housing stock to be low- and
moderate-income housing, with ½ credit per qualifying mobile home.
In order to count as affordable housing under the
bill, a mobile home must constitute a primary residence of the occupant or
occupants, be located within a community owned by the residents or on land
owned by the occupant, and comply with the Manufactured Home Construction and
Safety Standards of the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
The legislation now heads to the governor for
consideration.
