The Regional Housing Summit, held on November 19 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Newport Campus, brought together advocates, policymakers, service providers, and community members for an incisive discussion on the region’s deepening housing crisis. Moderated by Board Chairman/RIDDC, Chris Simonelli, and emceed by Ken Renaud, founder of IN2U Relationships, the summit featured a morning of presentations and Q&A followed by an afternoon devoted to solution-oriented collaboration.
Cheryl Robinson, president of Turning Around Ministries, James Winters, from Housing Hotline, and Annette Bourbonniere from Accessibility & Inclusion Consulting, LLC, were the panelists. The opening speakers underscored the stark economic divide shaping both the nation, the state, and Newport County. One participant observed, “The United States is not actually the richest country in the world; it is the country that is home to the richest citizens in the world.” The contrast between extraordinary private wealth and strained public resources remains visible across Newport. As Annette Bourboniere, noted: “We have a concentration of wealth that needs to be dispersed a bit better… We need fair taxation, living wages, and true universal health care if we are to stop this growth of homelessness.”
Concern for younger generations was palpable. As Ms. Bourbonniere, shared, “Young people tell me they worry they won’t have a future because it is too hard to make it, and the safety net is not there.” The call to act now, and decisively, was a recurring theme.
Among the day’s practical presentations was a detailed look at Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by Newport builder and longtime advocate Paul Bernard. He described ADUs as a critical tool for affordability, aging in place, and expanding options for students, workers, and families. Importantly, he clarified that ADUs may be rented to non-family members, and it is an essential point for expanding regional capacity.
Advocates for Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities, Kevin Nerney, RI Developmental Disabilities Council’s executive director, and Michelle Brophy of BHDDH, also emphasized the urgency of expanding housing choices, highlighting the promise of ADUs, shared living models, and cooperative approaches. With federal rental subsidies carrying three- to ten-year waitlists, speakers stressed the need for deeper state investment and stronger local support.
“Even our ‘affordable’ units aren’t affordable for someone on SSI or SSDI,” said Michelle Brophy. Permanent supportive housing, she reminded the audience, remains one of the most effective long-term solutions. As one longtime housing professional explained, “We have not done a great job creating affordable housing, and even what we build is not affordable for everyone. Without rental subsidies and services, people simply cannot access it.”
The morning session of the summit closed with a call for collective action. Local resistance to development remains a significant barrier; yet, as one speaker affirmed, the community itself holds the solution. “When town councils hear only from those opposed, projects stall. Your voices – your support – can move housing forward.”
In the afternoon session, participants were asked to review the critical issues identified and select their top three priorities. The collective voting results produced the following ranking of the top five issues:
- Build Awareness – Identified as the highest priority, indicating a strong need for increased public understanding and engagement.
- Funding – Recognized as a key requirement to support initiatives and ensure long-term sustainability.
- Capacity – Highlighted as an essential factor affecting the ability to implement and manage programs effectively.
- Subsidies – Noted as an important mechanism to support adoption and reduce financial barriers.
- NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) – Acknowledged as a significant challenge related to community acceptance and local opposition.
Clearly, zoning barriers, NIMBY resistance, and outdated local policies remain major obstacles, but the community itself holds the power to change that. As Ms. Brophy urged, “When only ten people show up to say no, and hundreds stay silent, projects die… You are the solution.”
Today’s gathering made one message unmistakably clear: solving the housing crisis requires coordinated, persistent, community-wide effort, and that work begins now.
