
PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Office of Housing and Community Development is seeking outside partners as it embarks on a level of “research and analysis [that] has never been done before in Rhode Island” for its upcoming comprehensive housing plan, said a state spokesperson.
On Dec. 29, the state posted a bid notice for consultants “to create a comprehensive housing plan for the State of Rhode Island,” an annual requirement included in the law that established the OHCD.
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“Rhode Island has been challenged with clear and severe gaps in the affordability and accessibility of quality housing for decades,” said spokesperson Chris Raia. “Our goal is to create a comprehensive, evidence-based plan to strengthen the long-term future of Rhode Island’s statewide housing landscape.”
When asked why the office is seeking consultancy services, rather than creating the report internally, Raia said that the needed centralized planning is “not only highly specialized, but extremely time-consuming.
“By conducting a national search for a qualified and experienced vendor, we are seeking to complement existing expertise in our community with additional much-needed expertise to the process of addressing of the state’s most pressing and most complex issues,” he continued.
The posted bid says that the chosen consultancy services will work under the R.I. Secretary of Housing to assess current and future housing needs, then identify housing barriers and solutions. The report will also need to establish 2, 5, and 10-year goals for housing production and preservation.
Raia declined to comment on whether any applicants have started the process, and said that the state will provide an update when the procurement process is complete.
The application period will remain open until Feb. 2, according to the posted bid.
Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.