United Way hosting housing summit

PROVIDENCE – United Way of Rhode Island will host its “Housing For All Summit” on March 14 to identify ways to reduce housing costs in the state.

According to information from United Way, half of all renter households and one in three homeowners are cost-burdened, spending more than one-third of their paychecks to keep a roof over their heads.

UWRI said the lack of housing affordability forces working families to choose between food, health care, child care and paying for housing.

The free summit, featuring elected officials, community leaders and those from the housing community, will be held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Guest speakers include Elizabeth Falcon, director of housing advocacy for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, and Dr. Megan Sandel, principal investigator with Children’s HealthWatch, who will discuss the relationship between housing and health from a pediatrician’s perspective. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

“Housing is one of the most basic of needs; it’s a common denominator we all share and one that impacts nearly every aspect of our lives – from workforce and economic development to health care and education,” Anthony Maione, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island, said in a statement. “When families are forced to move frequently due to housing costs, interrupting a child’s education and work transportation are just two of the challenges they face with very real long-term implications.”

At the conclusion of the summit, UWRI will develop an action plan to address housing affordability. The action plan will be made available to all who are interested.

Those interested in attending the summit may RSVP to Naomi Leipold at Naomi.leipold@uwri.org or (401) 444-0625. Registration is also available HERE.

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