Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Councilman John Goncalves to Introduce Rental Assistance Ordinance on Thursday
Mayor Brett P. Smiley, Providence City Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1), Director of Housing and Human Services Emily Freedman, and members of Providence’s housing community today gathered to announce the Smiley Administration’s multi-faceted Housing Stabilization Package, a slate of initiatives aimed at helping renters while the City expands housing supply to address the housing shortage. As Mayor Smiley outlined in his 2025 Housing Report, the City’s approach to addressing the current housing crisis involves three critical strategies:
- Production: Build more housing at every income level by updating zoning, making approvals faster and easier, and investing in affordable housing construction.
- Preservation: Protect affordability and quality in our existing homes, upgrade older housing, and turn old, unused buildings into useful spaces for housing.
- Protection: Support housing stability for residents through help with rent, legal services, eviction defense, more shelter access and placement support, and outreach that tackles the underlying causes of housing insecurity.
Today’s announcement advances policies in all three areas, with a particular focus on protection mechanisms.
A key part of this package is the Rental & Essential Needs Transition (RENT) Fund, designed with support from Councilman Goncalves to help Providence renters facing temporary financial hardship remain in their homes. Councilors Goncalves and early co-sponsors, Councilors Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Oscar Vargas (Ward 15), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Pro Tempore Pichardo (Ward 9), Althea Graves (Ward 12), Ana Vargas (Ward 7) and Jim Taylor (Ward 8) will introduce the ordinance to the City Council on Thursday, March 19.
The RENT Fund would provide emergency assistance grants of up to $3,000 per household to prevent eviction, foreclosure, and other housing loss caused by unexpected financial challenges. The initiative will support households in crisis and bridge temporary affordability gaps to help residents regain financial footing.
“Housing stability is fundamental to the health and strength of our communities,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “The RENT Fund will give Providence neighbors facing hardship a critical lifeline so that an unexpected crisis does not turn into permanent displacement. This proposal builds on our broader strategy to protect tenants through eviction defense, maintain safe housing through code enforcement, and expand education for both landlords and renters. At the same time, we are tackling the root cause of the housing crisis by investing in the Providence Housing Trust Fund and working to build more affordable homes across our city so that every neighbor has a safe, stable place to call home.”
The program will assist households earning up to 80 % of Area Median Income (AMI), with priority given to those earning at or below 60% AMI. Applicants must demonstrate imminent risk of housing loss due to circumstances such as job loss, medical emergencies, sudden rent increases, or other verifiable hardships. Eligible uses for assistance include rental arrears, forward rent payments, security deposits, utility arrears to prevent shutoffs, mortgage arrears, and certain insurance premiums necessary to maintain housing. The program is designed as a means-tested crisis intervention tool, allowing a maximum of one application per resident within a twelve-month period.
“Providence families should not lose their apartments or homes because of a temporary setback,” said Councilman John Goncalves. “The RENT Fund creates targeted relief now to assist during moments of crisis while protecting the long-term health of our neighborhoods. By providing short-term assistance when it is needed most, we can prevent evictions and displacement while giving residents the breathing room they need to regain financial stability.”
If the Ordinance is approved, the Department of Housing & Human Services will administer the program and will release a Request for Proposals to partner with a qualified nonprofit organization experienced in rental assistance and housing stabilization services.
The RENT Fund complements several housing initiatives proposed for FY27 funding including:
- Eviction Defense: The Mayor’s budget will propose $500,000 to continue support for the Eviction Defense Collaborative, providing no-cost eviction defense, mediation, and housing counseling services that help tenants understand their rights and avoid unnecessary displacement,
- DIS Revolving Fund: The Mayor’s budget will propose $500,000 of renewed investment in the successful DIS Revolving Fund program for code repairs paired with enhanced code enforcement staffing to be responsive to concerns with poor housing quality
- Landlord/Tenant Education: The Mayor’s budget will propose $15,000 in new funding for Housing and Human Services to support fair housing testing and proactive landlord/tenant education on existing laws and rights.
- Providence Housing Trust Fund Bond: Mayor Smiley is also working with the General Assembly to advance a proposed $25 million bond to expand the City’s Housing Trust Fund to further accelerate affordable housing production.
These efforts help keep neighbors at risk of displacement in their homes while the Smiley Administration continues to address the root cause of housing instability by increasing housing supply through the Providence Housing Trust Fund, to which the City has committed approximately $55 million over the past three years to build or preserve more than 1,600 homes.
If approved by the City Council, the City anticipates launching the RENT Fund this summer. More information about eligibility and application procedures will be announced prior to program launch.