Affordable Housing Commission
The Affordable Housing Commission was established on August 10th, 2004 through a town ordinance. It is an advisory body to the Town Council consisting of nine members, which are appointed by the Town Council. Seven of these nine are voting members, and two are ex-officio members. All voting members are residents of the town.
Mission
The purpose of this commission is to foster the production of affordable housing in Charlestown, to monitor and report on the implementation of the town’s local affordable housing plan and to ensure an institutional commitment to the provision of affordable housing.
Meetings
The Affordable Housing Commission usually meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m., look at the Town Calendar for the most accurate meetings dates and times. Click here for the commission’s agendas and minutes.
Affordable Housing
Generally speaking, affordable housing is when a household pays no more than 30% of their annual salary for housing. In Charlestown, the average home in 2008 is $395,000. The monthly payment would be around $3,135 a month. This means that a household would need to make $125,410 per year or $60.29 per hour to afford an average home in Charlestown.*
*Data from HousingWorksRI: http://www.housingworksri.org/
Affordable Housing includes homes for moderate, low, and very low-income households. Moderate-income homes are for households that make 115% to 80% of area median income (AMI). Low-income homes are for households that make 80% to 50% of AMI, and very low-income is for households that make under 50% of AMI.
2008 AMI for the Charlestown area for a household of 3 is:
- Moderate-income 115% AMI is $70,700
- Low-income 80% AMI is $52,700
- Very-low-income 50% AMI is $32,900
Affordable Housing Unit Progress in Charlestown
Charlestown needs an additional 285 units of affordable housing to reach its state mandated goal of 10%. The housing stock in each Rhode Island town needs to be at least 10% affordable.
Non-profit affordable housing units built in Charlestown:
6 units (5 Habitat for Humanity and 1 Action Community Land Trust)
Proposed Affordable Housing Developments in Town
| Property | Status | # of Affordable Units | Location | Developer |
| Village Farm | preliminary approval | 32 condominiums 16 1-bedrooms 16 2-bedrooms age-restricted to 55 and over 2 80% below AMI |
3900 Old Post Road | Stasiunas Companies Investments |
| Lakeview Neurological Center | preliminary approval | 8 bedroom group home for people recovering from neurological injury or disorder | Lakeview Ocean State | |
|
Edwards Lane |
final approval |
8 single family 3-bedroom homes 5 80% below AMI See announcement for more eligibility information. |
430 Carolina Back Road | Civic Development Corporation |
If you would like more information about any of these projects, please contact Charlestown’s Planning Department.
Other Affordable Housing Activities in Town
The Affordable Housing Commission is looking for land and non-profit housing partnerships.
The town has committed 1 million dollars in an Affordable Housing Bond (PDF) to the acquisition of land for affordable housing and to fund non-profit affordable housing projects.
Charlestown has put together an Affordable Housing Plan (PDF).
Upcoming Events
Conferences
Homebuyer Education Classes from Rhode Island Housing
Affordable Housing Activities in South County
County Wide
A Regional Affordable Housing Strategy for Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island Report (PDF)
Washington County Regional Affordable Housing Entity Feasibility Study (PDF)
Town of New Shoreham
Block Island Housing Board provides affordable housing opportunities for year round residents.
Town of South Kingstown
Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee is an advisory committee, whose general purpose is to assist in the implementation of affordable housing measures identified in the South Kingstown Affordable Housing Study.
Town of Exeter
Exeter Affordable Housing Plan (PDF)
Town of Narragansett
Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee
Town of Hopkinton
Affordable Housing Plan (PDF)
Town of Richmond
Affordable Housing Committee
Other Resources
South County Habitat for Humanity
Rhode Island Housing
Housing Works RI