Board discusses data collection, monitoring entity and vacancies as barriers to year-round affordable housing

Board members and a town human-services official raised concerns that vacant deed-restricted units and uneven oversight have reduced the pool of year-round affordable housing, and they recommended building a coordinated data and monitoring structure before advancing a town ballot measure.

Allison Carley, director of human services, said she fields frequent calls about housing and described one statistic about Ball O'Brien: "Out of 16 people on a wait list at Ball O'Brien housing, more than half of those people come from other cities in Rhode Island requesting the housing. They've got one apartment opening up." She asked whether the board maintained a current list and offered to help collect confidential inquiries through her office.

Board members said the clerk’s office has an existing survey-based list compiled since 2019 with more than 100 names, but that list needs updating. Members discussed confidentiality and security for any list; Chris noted the board’s website proposal will include a second phase focused on security and that initially they will not collect sensitive data online.

Several speakers raised the lack of a dedicated monitoring entity for deed-restricted properties. One staff member reported contacting a Rhode Island Housing monitoring consultant (identified in the meeting as Molina Lodge) who manages properties for the state and described gaps on the island: municipalities are expected to set up monitoring systems and nonprofit owners are not universally required to perform monitoring. The consultant reportedly offered to come to the island to educate local stakeholders about monitoring obligations.

Rosemary and other board members urged the board to convene a meeting of homeowners associations, Westside 20 representatives, the bed-tax administrators, nonprofit partners and town offices to explain roles, improve coordination and build public trust prior to a town warrant vote. "It would help all around if the communication and we get everybody in one room," Rosemary said. Several members described year-round vacancies — units sitting empty nine months a year — as a major community concern that undermines trust and the board’s efforts.

Board members discussed the possibility of a dedicated, funded position to coordinate monitoring, outreach and administration of deed restrictions and lists. They compared the idea to a prior island position that began part time and later became a full-time role, and agreed a paid coordinator could accelerate progress and centralize responsibilities if funding can be found.

Next steps discussed included: contacting the Rhode Island Housing monitoring consultant to schedule an education session; updating and consolidating the housing-interest list and survey materials; drafting a clear outline of who does what among town, nonprofits and homeowner groups; and exploring funding sources or grants to support a housing coordinator position. The board agreed to continue collecting data and to circulate draft outreach and coordination materials by email in the coming weeks.