As an RIHousing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holder, you have the ability to choose a rental home in one of 19 Rhode Island communities. We have created this guide to provide you with an overview of living in any of those communities. With a Housing Choice Voucher, you are required to pay 30-40% of your income towards rent. RIHousing will pay the balance of the rental payment directly to your landlord.
Newport is one of the most historic cities in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of “Rhode Island,” more commonly known by its Narragansett name of Aquidneck Island. Newport was founded in 1639 by followers of Roger Williams, and grew to be one of the largest of the four original settlements. Newport is Rhode Island’s most well-known tourist destination and is renowned for its historic mansions and sailing history.
Given its island geography, it is accessible by the Newport Claiborne Pell Bridge to the west (RI Rte. 138), and the Mt. Hope Bridge to the north (via RI Route 114 through Portsmouth and Middletown). It has a number of distinct neighborhoods, including the North End, the Point, Off Broadway, Top of the Hill, and the Historic Hill, to name a few. Its residents are also very engaged and civically active.
Newport has a more diverse housing stock than many RI municipalities, and a majority of renter households. It is also well-serviced by RIPTA, and is easily traversed on foot and bicycle. Affordability ranges widely, though, and has some of the oldest housing stock in the state outside of Providence.
What is the Fair Market Rate?
Driving times by car (average):
| City Hall | 43 Broadway |
| Library | Newport Public Library 300 Spring St. |
| Post Office (3) | 169 Broadway, 320 Thames St. 1900 Peary St. |
| Police Department | 120 Broadway |
| Recycling Center | 80 Halsey St. |
| DHS & SNAP Offices: Newport Regional Family Center | DHS Office: 31 John Clarke Rd., Middletown SNAP Office: 272 Valley Rd., Middletown |
| Eastbay Community Action – Lower Bay Region | 19 Broadway 401- 848-6697 |
| Edward King House Senior Center | 35 King St. |
| Florence Gray Center | 1 York St. |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center | 20 Dr Marcus Wheatland Blvd |
| Aldi’s | 872 W Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842 |
| Aquidneck Meat Market | 800 Aquidneck Ave # A, Middletown, RI 02842 |
| Stop & Shop (3) | 199 JT Connell Hwy, 250 Bellevue Ave. |
| Shaw’s | 71 E Main Rd, Middletown |
| Nearest Walmart | 199 JT Connell Hwy |
For a full list of care providers, visit www.brightstars.org.
| RIDE Rating | ||
| Claiborne Pell Elem. Sch. | 35 Dexter St. (Grades PK-5) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Frank E. Thompson Middle School | 55 Broadway (Grades 5-8) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Rogers High School | 15 Wickham Rd.(Grades 9-12) | ★★★☆☆ 4-year graduation rate: 87.1% |
| The Met East Bay School | 115 Girard Ave. (Grades 9-12) | 4-year graduation rate: 93.3% |
| St. Michael’s Country Day School | 180 Rhode Island Ave (Grades PK-8) |
| Bank of America | 181 Bellevue Ave. |
| BankNewport (3) | 10 Washington Sq. 528 W. Main Rd. 31 Conanicus Ave. |
| Bank RI | 132 E. Main Rd. |
| Citizens Bank (2) | 8 Washington Sq. 25 E. Main Rd. |
| Santander Bank | 292 Thames St. |
| TD Bank | 553 West Main Rd. |
| EBCAP Dental Center | 19 Broadway |
| Ocean State Urgent Care of Middletown | 10 Washington Sq. |
| Nearest hospital: Newport Hospital | 20 Powel Ave |
| Protestant Church | 14 |
| Catholic, Episcopal & Orthodox churches | 7 |
| Jewish Synagogue | 1 |
| Nearest Mosque | South Kingstown |
| Mormon Temple | 1 |
| Fort Adams Brenton Point State Park |
| Ballard Park |
| Miantonomi Memorial Park |
| Coddington Field |
| Eisenhower Park |
| Morton Park |
| Freebody Park |
| Dexter Street Park |
| Easton’s Beach |
| Second Beach |
| Third Beach |
| Hazard Beach King’s Beach |
| Cliff Walk |
| Newport Art Museum | Education department with numerous programs including classes and workshops for youth and adults |
| Newport Children’s Theatre | Newport Children’s Theatre and Newport County Teen Repertory Company |
Rhode Island Housing Subsidiary Corporations
Rhode Island Housing Affiliates
These are not RIHousing entities, but we have a general partner capacity in each:
RIHousing strives to ensure that all people who live or work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. A good home provides the foundation upon which individuals and families thrive, children learn and grow, and communities prosper.
To achieve our mission we:
RIHousing uses all of its resources to provide low-interest loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, RIHousing is a privately funded public purpose corporation.
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract.
Only residents of census tract 405 are eligible for the FirstGenHomeRI pilot program.
The map on the left shows the approximated eligible region.
Unsure if your address is part of the eligible region?
Type in your address below to find out (Include street #, street name, Newport, RI).
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract for application prioritization.
Applications from residents who live in the census tract listed below are prioritized.
| Central Falls | 44007010900, 44007010800, 44007011100, 44007011000 |
| Pawtucket | 44007016000, 44007015300, 44007015100, 44007015200, 44007015500, 44007016600, 44007016700, 44007017000, 44007017100, 44007016100, 44007016400 |
| Newport | 44005040500, 44005041100 |
| East Providence | 44007010100, 44007010501 |
Type in your address below to learn if you are in the targeted area. (Include street #, street name, city, RI).