RIHousing programs that help you rent, keep, or buy a home
RIHousing runs the housing programs that reach more Rhode Islanders than any other single agency. It administers Section 8 vouchers across much of the state, provides free counseling and mediation to homeowners facing foreclosure, removes lead hazards from older homes at little or no cost to the owner, and finances mortgages and down payment assistance for first-time buyers. This guide explains what each program may do for you and where to start, whether you are trying to lower your rent, save your home, or buy your first one.
Start with the program that matches your situation: the Centralized Waiting List for rent help, the HelpCenter for a mortgage problem, LeadSafe for an older home, or the homebuyers program for a first purchase.
Section 8 vouchers and the statewide waiting list
The Housing Choice Voucher program, which most people still call Section 8, pays a portion of your monthly rent directly to your landlord. You pay a share based on your household income, and the voucher covers the rest. Vouchers are always run by a local public housing authority, and RIHousing itself serves as the housing authority for 19 Rhode Island cities and towns that do not have their own.
Applying is simpler than it used to be. RIHousing and the Public Housing Association of Rhode Island operate the Rhode Island Centralized Waiting List at https://www.waitlist-centralri.com/, where one application can place you on the lists of RIHousing and participating local housing authorities at the same time. The portal covers both tenant-based vouchers, which move with you, and project-based rental assistance, where the subsidy is tied to specific apartments and may open up sooner in some buildings.
- TIP: Not every housing authority in the state participates, so it is worth checking directly with your city or town's authority as well. Our guide to how section Section 8 housing works explains how vouchers, waiting lists, and inspections work in more detail.
Renters with a voucher have real protection in Rhode Island. State law makes it illegal for a landlord to turn you away simply for paying with a voucher or other lawful source of income. Voucher holders may also join the Family Self-Sufficiency program to build savings and job skills, and long-term participants who are ready may qualify for the Section 8 homeownership option.
Free help when your mortgage falls behind
The RIHousing HelpCenter is a HUD-approved counseling agency, and its services are free and confidential for any Rhode Island homeowner, no matter who holds the loan. A counselor reviews your income, expenses, and mortgage, then works with you and your lender on options that may include a loan modification, a repayment plan, or another workout arrangement. Counselors can also refer you to Rhode Island Legal Services (see the guide to free legal aid in RI) when a lawyer is needed. Reach the HelpCenter at 401-457-1130, and act early, because the further behind a loan gets, the fewer options remain.
Rhode Island homeowners also have a legal right many do not know about. Under the state's Mortgage Foreclosure and Sale Act, a borrower who has fallen behind can require a mediation conference with the lender before foreclosure moves forward. RIHousing coordinates these sessions, a HUD-approved counselor attends to advocate for you, and the process costs the homeowner nothing. Details are on the RIHousing homeowner assistance page at https://www.rihousing.com/homeowners/homeowner-assistance/.
Protection when property taxes go unpaid
Falling behind on property taxes can cost you a home just as surely as a missed mortgage. Under a state law called the Madeline Walker Act, RIHousing may step in and purchase the tax lien on an owner-occupied home of one to three units before it goes to tax sale. Private lien buyers can begin foreclosure after holding a lien for one year, while RIHousing must hold it for at least five, and during that time the agency may set up a payment plan, connect you with housing counseling, and point you to other resources. Homeowners need to contact RIHousing at least 20 days before a scheduled tax sale to use this protection, so do not wait once a sale notice arrives.
Getting lead out of an older home
Rhode Island has some of the oldest housing in the country, and lead paint remains a serious hazard in homes built before 1978. The LeadSafe Homes Program pays for lead inspections and remediation work such as window and door replacement, interior and exterior painting, and soil treatment. The help is structured as a forgivable loan, and in most cases the property owner pays nothing out of pocket and makes no monthly payments.
The program runs statewide and covers both single-family and multi-family properties, with a focus on homes where young children or pregnant women live or spend time. Renters worried about lead can raise the program with their landlord, since the work benefits both sides. The program may also cover related health and safety improvements, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and better ventilation. Learn more on the LeadSafe Homes page at https://www.rihousing.com/homeowners/community-lending-programs/leadsafe-programs/ or by calling 401-450-1350.
Buying a first home with RIHousing behind you
RIHousing finances mortgages for first-time buyers, including loan options that may require no down payment at all. Down payment and closing cost help is available through several programs, including 15kDPA, which is a no-interest loan, an Extra Assistance loan option, and FirstGenHomeRI, a larger assistance package for buyers whose parents never owned a home, with applicants from certain communities given priority. Program amounts and eligibility rules change from year to year, so check the current terms on the RIHousing homebuyers before planning around a specific figure.
First-time buyers are required to complete a homebuyer education class before closing on a RIHousing loan, and classes are offered virtually. You can apply through the agency's own Loan Center, where income limits vary by town and household size, or through a network of participating lenders around the state.
Who RIHousing is and how to reach them
RIHousing is a quasi-public corporation created by the General Assembly in 1973 under the legal name Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation. It is self-supporting and receives no state funding for its operations, which is part of why its programs lean toward financing, vouchers, and counseling rather than direct cash grants. The office is at 44 Washington Street in Providence, and the main number is 401-457-1234, with a toll-free line at 800-427-5560 and website at https://www.rihousing.com/. Calling ahead to confirm current requirements is always worth the few minutes it takes.
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