Rhode Island Receives $7.4M to Help Subsidize Rent for Disabled Residents

Rhode Island is receiving $7.4 million in federal funding to help make housing more affordable for residents with disabilities.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 811 Project Rental Assistance for Persons with Disabilities program. It will be administered through RIHousing in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, according to Providence Business News.

Funding Will Support Rental Assistance

The federal funding is intended to provide rental subsidies for eligible residents with disabilities, helping reduce the gap between what households can afford and the cost of housing.

The investment comes as Rhode Island continues to face a shortage of affordable housing, particularly for households with limited incomes and residents who require additional housing support.

For landlords and housing providers, the program also provides a source of rental assistance that can help make affordable units available to residents who might otherwise struggle to secure stable housing.

Part of Broader Housing Effort

The new funding adds to Rhode Island's ongoing efforts to expand supportive and affordable housing. State housing programs have increasingly focused on residents with disabilities, older adults and other households facing significant affordability challenges.

With rents and home prices remaining elevated across the state, rental assistance can play an important role in helping vulnerable residents remain housed while Rhode Island works to increase its overall supply of affordable homes.