Median RI renter is unable to affordably rent in any Ocean State city, new report finds
For the first time ever, Rhode Island renters earning the state’s median income are unable to affordably rent in every city and town in the state, according to a new report from HousingWorks RI, a local housing research organization.
Since 2005, the group has released an annual fact book examining how Rhode Island’s housing landscape is impacting statewide economic outcomes. This year’s report found that Rhode Island’s rental prices are increasing at a rate faster than that of any other New England state.
Since 2018, the state’s home sales prices have increased by 65%, while rental prices have grown by 60%. Wages, on the other hand, have only gone up 29%. Additionally, one in three Rhode Island households are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third of their income on housing, according to the report.
Rhode Island is “very dependent on the federal government for housing resources,” said HousingWorks RI Executive Director Brenda Clement in an interview with The Herald. Clement added that around 80% of the state’s housing expenditures come from the federal government. She warned that shifting federal policies may jeopardize Rhode Islanders’ ability to afford housing.
“If realized, the federal government’s efforts to limit the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid would have a really serious impact on people trying not only to attain housing but also maintain their existing housing,” Clement said. “If they lose other assistance programs, then things become dicey very quickly.”
The report also uncovered racial disparities in how housing issues affect Rhode Islanders. Almost 40% of Hispanic homeowners and 35% of Black homeowners are cost-burdened, compared to only 24% of white homeowners and 19% of Asian homeowners.
Rents are high in the Ocean State because demand for housing exceeds supply, House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi (D-Warwick) wrote in an email to The Herald. He added that Rhode Island has ranked last in the country for new housing construction for several years.
This housing crisis has worsened over time, according to Eric Hirsch, sociology professor at Providence College and director of the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project. “Things have gotten demonstrably worse due to the Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hirsch said. “Those in the lowest income categories are facing unprecedented levels of homelessness if they can’t find a permanent doubled-up situation with friends or family.”
According to the report, the number of people experiencing homelessness decreased by 3% from 2024 to 2025. However, the 2025 Point-in-Time Count—which measures homelessness on a single night in January—found a 36% increase in the number of unsheltered chronically homeless Rhode Islanders.
Crossroads Rhode Island, an organization focused on addressing homelessness, has also seen an increase in demand for their housing resources. “We served nearly 5,600 people last year, an unprecedented number in our 130-year history,” wrote Michelle Wilcox, president and CEO of Crossroads, in an email to The Herald.
Despite these challenging numbers, Clement noted that localities like Providence have made some significant gains in housing affordability. Compared to other cities in Rhode Island, Providence “understands the challenges around affordability and housing a little bit better,” she said. “They’ve got a little more capacity for planning, managing projects, and approving these projects.”
Last year, Rhode Islanders voted to approve a $120 million housing bond to fund the construction and redevelopment of housing. In the coming months, $39 million of this funding will be released to support homeownership initiatives, public development, and efforts to accelerate housing production across the state, wrote Emily Marshall, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing, in an email to The Herald.
However, Hirsch cautioned that even this bond “is not going to put much of a dent in the affordability crisis.” He believes Rhode Islanders need a larger, state-driven commitment to building subsidized project-based housing with project-based subsidies. Additionally, accepting public opinion for housing development and passing rent stabilization legislation proposed by the Providence City Council are essential steps.
Emphasizing the importance of addressing the housing crisis, House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi said, “All positive outcomes start with a good, safe place to live.”
https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2025/10/median-ri-renter-is-unable-to-affordably-rent-in-any-ri-city-new-report-finds
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