Speaker Shekarchi on housing, local election wins, and Providence's finances

"...people in Rhode Island want affordable housing options," said Speaker Shekarchi.

Rhode Island Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi attended a special construction tour of 44 Central Street in Central Falls today,¹ where he spoke about how voters in Rhode Islander supported more affordable housing by approving the housing bond and rejecting elected officials who took strong stands against the General Assembly’s recent efforts to address the issue. The Speaker also commented on the Providence school funding lawsuit that may destroy the City’s finances.

The transcript below starts with the Speaker’s public comments and then goes into questions from reporters. It has been edited for clarity.

Speaker Shekarchi: We saw something last week that is so critical, which is an affirmation of the work that we’ve been doing in the General Assembly and that the critical investments we’ve made in projects like this behind me and throughout the State are what the people of Rhode Island want. The Housing Bond, the single largest housing bond in the history of Rhode Island, passed by an incredibly strong margin. Nearly 75%. Communities, not just Central Falls and Providence that have embraced affordable housing, but communities that fought affordable housing and didn’t want to work with us lost.

In Narragansett, the Town Council passed ordinances to thwart and override the housing reforms we passed in the House. The entire council that ran lost. In Charlestown, the Planning Board, which is made up of elected officials, resisted a lot of the changes. Those elected people lost their election. Two candidates who made being against affordable housing a cornerstone of their campaigns in Coventry, [including] a Republican running for State Senate, lost, and in Warren, the Council President who was running against June Speakman lost.

What does that tell you? It tells you that people in Rhode Island want affordable housing options. I’m proud of that, and I’m proud of the team we’ve put together. I want the General Assembly to continue to address this issue. It took us 30 years to get to this point, and it’s going to take us a while to get out, but we’re committed to keeping the ball rolling.

This is exactly the type of development we need more of in Rhode Island. It’s mixed-use; it’s affordable; it’s inclusive. It includes services and resources for its residents. We have a severe housing shortage in Rhode Island. That should not be a surprise to anybody. The reality today is that working families are priced out of the market, not just for home ownership but for renting as well. In the last five years in Rhode Island, the prices of single-family homes have nearly doubled. The rents at 44 Central will be affordable, and that’s fantastic for the 30 new families who will live here, as well as for the 32 families who are already here and who won’t have to worry about being priced out of the market for too long.

Rhode Island has not done enough to make sure that we have enough safe, affordable homes for everyone who wants one. We have been dead last in the nation for a number of years for new construction. That is unacceptable. I appreciate and recognize the efforts made in Central Falls. I want to call out Mayor Maria Rivera, who recognizes this and has been a good partner in this community and the Central Falls City Council. Only when local governments work with us at the State level can we get good things done.

Reporter: As you know, there’s a financial crisis this week between Providence and the school department over funding. Would the General Assembly consider ponying up more money for Providence next year to help cover the forthcoming court judgment about school funding?

Speaker Shekarchi: I like to keep an open mind on everything, so if anybody puts something in, we’ll give it a full and fair hearing. I want to point out that we’re looking at a deficit of about $335 million. That’s the latest estimate. The case you’re talking about is active litigation within the court system, and I try not to comment on active litigation. Still, if a bill did come in, there have been bills for several years about this, and we’ll give every consideration to it. We try to keep an open mind in the House. We’ll let everybody make their points for and against it, but the State has no more federal money. We are operating in a deficit right now. The State House is a beautiful building, but I assure you there is no printing press in the basement, and unlike the federal government, we have to live within our means.

Reporter: Governor Daniel McKee has already made similar comments. He says no, that the City has to pay, and that their failure puts them in this situation.

Speaker Shekarchi: You have to ask the Governor about his comment. I will tell you that we listen to everything that comes before us. We have hearings before the Finance Committee. I keep an open mind. I never like to pre-judge anything. We have a process that will start on January 7th. The Governor will submit his budget [after that]. Many people have come to me early for funding and are worried because they’ve gotten used to federal funding. There is no more federal funding. I tell everybody that they need to see if they can get in the Governor’s proposed budget [before] January, and then it comes to the General Assembly, and we begin a full process.

Reporter: Would you ever consider changing The Crowley Act to help relieve the burden on Providence?

Speaker Shekarchi: Right now, everything is on the table. Like I said, I never prejudge it. So yes, not change for the sake of change, but change because it’s better. They have to justify improving it to the committee and the House in general, the Senate, and the Governor. Everything’s always on the table. Nothing is prejudged. I know people say [decisions are] all made at the top [but] that’s just not the way I operate. I decentralized a lot of this and made the committee process honest and fair.

Reporter: Regarding housing stock, do you feel like we are starting to chip away at the lack of inventory?

Speaker Shekarchi: I think things are getting better; you’re seeing more building permits being issued now. I know a building permit is not a unit, but building permits are up significantly in Warwick and other communities, and I think that’s a direct result of some of the reforms we made. [We’re] starting to see changes happen. It’s going to take time. You don’t build a house overnight. It sometimes takes a year or two because of the supply chain, utility costs, and weather. So many factors go into building, but we’re seeing building permits rise, and that’s a very good early indication. Also, you’re seeing a dramatic drop in the backlog of land disputes in the court system because we have instituted a land calendar in the Superior Court at no extra cost to the taxpayers. We have a dedicated calendar to handle real estate disputes, and that backlog is dropping dramatically. That means a lot of those projects are getting definitive answers and, hopefully, approvals to start building.

Reporter: Do you think there’s a change in mentality that [means] people are not fighting these projects anymore?

Speaker Shekarchi: No. Sadly, that’s not true. I still think there’s a little pushback. It’s all on the local level. Everybody wants affordable housing, but nobody wants it near them. We need to overcome that burden. I think it is starting to break through, but there is still opposition to a lot of projects on a local level.

Reporter: The rents listed for this spot are $800 to $1900. That’s unheard of when you’re looking around for new apartments these days. It’s going to excite a lot of young people, I imagine. Have you heard similar things?

Speaker Shekarchi: Yes. It’s good. We need to make Rhode Island more affordable, so our young people can stay here. We’ve done a great job with our schools. We have programs at Rhode Island College with the Hope Program. We have CCRI with the PROMISE Program. We have a lot of programs that are helping people go through education now. They’re getting good jobs. We still have a strong job market here in Rhode Island. We also need to make sure that they have affordable housing at every single level. The only way I know how to do that, as all the data has indicated, is that we need to create housing at every single level - at market level, affordable housing, workforce level, low-income level, and even homelessness. There’s such a shortage at every level that whatever we do will help all the rest of those categories.

---

1. From a press release:

Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, members of the General Assembly, housing officials, and advocates joined the Housing Network of Rhode Island and Pawtucket Central Falls Development (PCF Development) for a special construction tour of 44 Central Street and nearby redevelopment projects. The tour provided an inside look at the ongoing development of 62 new and preserved income-restricted rental homes across 12 properties that are part of a vital effort by PCF Development to bring new life and opportunity to the Central Street neighborhood. 

“The development at 44 Central Street is exactly the type of project we need more of in Rhode Island: mixed-use, affordable, and inclusive housing, with services and resources for residents,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “It is also noteworthy that the City of Central Falls has been supportive of this development, and the resulting partnership will create beautiful, safe homes for working families.”

The Central Street redevelopment includes a mix of one- to four-bedroom rental units with affordable rents starting at $800 with options up to $1,900. 44 Central Street is situated in the heart of Central Falls, within walking distance of local schools, shops, and parks, and offers easy access to public transportation. The property will also feature two community commercial spaces, including a Homeownership and Financial Education Center. 

“44 Central Street shows what we can achieve when we come together to address the housing crisis,” said Melina Lodge, Executive Director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island. “This development is a great example of how affordable housing can change neighborhoods and give families the chance to thrive. It offers easy access to shops, restaurants, public transportation, parks, and services, along with community spaces and an accessible design that makes it welcoming for everyone. By strategically focusing state investments in developments like this statewide, we can help ensure that everyone in Rhode Island has a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home, along with the support they need to build a better future for themselves.”

44 Central incorporates key accessible design features including wider doorways and hallways, lever door handles, accessible light switches, and thermostats. Roll-in showers will be installed in at least one out of every five accessible units, and in-wall blocking is included to support future grab bar installations. These thoughtful elements prioritize safety, convenience, and accessibility for all residents.

“At PCF Development, we are deeply committed to the residents of Pawtucket and Central Falls,” said Linda Weisinger, Executive Director of Pawtucket Central Falls Development. “44 Central Street represents our dedication to revitalizing neighborhoods and providing affordable, quality housing for our community. This project is not just about building homes—it's about creating a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood where families can grow and thrive for years to come. The impact of these new and revitalized homes will be felt for generations, and we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of these communities.”

The 2024 HousingWorks RI Fact Book highlights a severe housing crisis in Central Falls and Pawtucket. In Central Falls, where the median income is $43,092, 74% of residents rent, and 60% are cost-burdened, defined as spending more than 30% of their income on housing. With average two-bedroom rents at $1,637, Central Falls families need an income of $65,480 to afford housing—well above what many families in the city earn. In Pawtucket, the median income is $62,799, with 52% of residents renting and 47% of renters cost-burdened. The average two-bedroom rent is $1,765, requiring an income of $70,600—again, beyond the reach of many local families

Developments like Central Street aim to meet these housing needs by offering residents a path to safe, stable, affordable housing.