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.
Portsmouth is the northernmost town of Aquidneck Island’s three municipalities, with Middletown and Newport to its south. As part of the island, it is accessible to the mainland via the Claiborne Pell Bridge, but is closest to the Mt. Hope Bridge which exits into the town directly. Routes 138 (East Main Road) and 114 (West Main Road) are the main routes traveling north and south. Route 114 connects to Route 24 (Fall River Expressway) and travels eastward into Tiverton and points north into Massachusetts. Portsmouth is a mix of rural and suburban neighborhoods, and relies substantially on commercial activity and services available in its neighbors to the south.
Of the three Aquidneck Island communities, Portsmouth is the most predominantly single-family, owner-occupied. Recent multi-family developments are generally condominiums, but may represent some opportunities for rental. There are also several mobile home parks that may have affordable rentals.
What is the Fair Market Rate?
| Town Hall | 2200 East Main Rd. 401-643-0499 |
| Library | 2658 East Main Rd. |
| Post Office | 95 Chase Rd. |
| Police Department | 2270 East Main Rd. |
| Recycling Center | 2020 Hedly St. |
| Nearest CAP: Eastbay Community Action – Lower Bay Region | 19 Broadway, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 401- 847-7821 |
| Nearest YMCA: Middletown YMCA | 792 Valley Road, Middletown |
| Nearest DHS & SNAP Offices: Newport Regional Family Center | DHS: 31 John Clarke Road, Middletown 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) SNAP: 272 Valley Road, Ste 1, Middletown 1-401-851-2100 |
| Clements’ Marketplace | 2575 East Main Rd. |
| The Green Grocer (Health foods) | 934 East Main Rd. |
| Portsmouth Community Food Bank at St. John’s Lodge | 81 Sprague St. |
| See many other listings in Middletown and Newport. | |
| Nearest Walmart | 199 Connell Hwy Newport |
| CVS | 10 Turnpike Ave. |
| Walgreens | 2456 East Main Rd. |
| Infant Care Programs | 4 |
| Toddler Care Programs | 4 |
| Preschool Programs | 6 |
| After School Care Programs | 5 |
Headstart Program: East Bay CAP program located at 740 West Main Rd., Middletown (approx. 7 miles, 16-minute drive)
District Report Card from RI Department of Education: District Code 27
| RIDE Rating | ||
| Howard Hathaway School Gr. K-4 | 53 Tallman Avenue | ★★★★☆ |
| Mellville Elementary School Gr. K-4 | 1351 West Main Road | ★★★★☆ |
| Portsmouth Middle School Gr. 6-8 | 125 Jepson Lane | ★★★☆☆ |
| Portsmouth High School Gr. 9-12 | 120 Education Lane | ★★★★☆ |
| Portsmouth Abbey | Gr. 9-12 |
| The Pennfield School | Gr. PK-8 |
| Aquidneck Island Christian Academy | Gr. K-12 |
| St. Philomena School | Gr. K-8 |
| BankNewport | 2628 East Main Rd. |
| Lifespan Urgent Care | 1360 West Main Road, Middletown 401-606-3110 |
| Ocean State Urgent Care | 67 Valley Road, Middletown 401-847-4950 |
| Southcoast Health Middletown Urgent Care | 670 Aquidneck Ave #7, Middletown 402-847-0519 |
| Newport Hospital | 20 Powel Ave., Newport 401-846-6400 |
| Protestant Church | 5 |
| Catholic + Episcopal Church | 6 |
| Nearest Synagogue | Middletown (approx. 7 miles, 14-minute drive) |
| Nearest Mosque | Fall River, MA (approx. 11 miles, 15-minute drive) |
| Glen Park |
| McCorrie Point Beach |
| Sandy Point Beach |
| Teddy Beach |
| Island Park Beach |
| Mellville Upper Pond |
| Portsmouth Arts Guild | The Guild offers monthly exhibitions of work from both members and non-members as well as varying number of art classes and workshops at the parish hall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. |
| Portsmouth Community Theatre | Offers adults and children the opportunity to experience live theater BY and FOR their own community. |
| Common Fence Point Arts, Wellness, and Community Center | May only be open to residents of CFP. |
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).