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6/14/2024
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Assembly approves Rep. McEntee and Sen. DiPalma’s bill to count mobile homes as affordable housing
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Bills are part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2024 legislative package addressing the housing crisis in Rhode Island
STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today passed Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma’s legislation (2024-H 7984Aaa, 2024-S 2993aa) that would allow municipalities to count mobile home units as affordable housing. 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.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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