Overview

The guiding principles for Housing and Community Development are contained in the Consolidated Plan Strategy (CPS 2005 -2010) which was based on collaboration with residents, service consumers and providers, the special needs community, youth, neighborhood associations, business owners and developers and City and State community development and planning staff, the following represents a consensus vision for Housing and Community Development in the City of Providence.

The city of Providence shall be a community that shall strive to achieve neighborhood stabilization by providing housing opportunities – homeownership and rental –and shall further strengthen our neighborhoods by encouraging new economic opportunities accessible to neighborhood residents, developing green spaces and providing suitable recreational opportunities with the goal of making our neighborhoods safe, clean and welcoming to all. Further the City will work to strengthen the public service network by providing a balance of services that all residents can access.

The Providence Vision for Housing includes:

• Creating new affordable housing. 
• Addressing Lead Based Paint Hazards and substandard housing.
• Providing permanent supportive housing to special needs families and individuals.
• Preserving Providence's wealth of historic homes.
• Preserving existing affordable housing.

 The Providence Vision for Neighborhood Revitalization includes:

• Expanding economic opportunities through business development and support, transportation changes and “reconnection” to Down City
• Increasing public safety and neighborhood perception through infrastructure improvements
• Comprehensive, holistic neighborhood plans that integrate housing, economic development and quality of life issues.
• Rehabilitation of commercial structures through environmental remediation and preservation when appropriate.

The Providence Vision for the Public Service Network includes:

• Literacy and job training programs which provide basic life skills and job readiness.
• An assessment of current services and retooling to meet new needs
• Outreach and inclusion - particularly of youth - of all cultures and languages into the public service network
• Support and develop delivery capacity of community centers

This vision is based, in part, on addressing the needs identified during the development of this Plan through a comprehensive focus group process. In addition, demographic changes in our City were analyzed, and meetings with local and state agencies were held to get additional information on housing and community development needs in Providence.