Rhode Island homeowners along coastal and rural areas may have cesspools, substandard septic systems or may be required to tie-in to existing sewer lines. In partnership with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, RIHousing offers low-interest loans to help protect our environment and improve Rhode Islanders’ homes.
The goal of this program is to safeguard public health and protect and improve ground and surface water resources by ensuring proper functioning and maintenance of all septic systems in participating communities.
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank uses federal dollars recycled from previous Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans to provide the source of funds for the CSSLP. This program allows communities without wastewater treatment facilities to access low-interest loans to assist property owners with the cost of repairing or replacing failing or substandard septic systems, including the replacement of a cesspool with a septic system.
Residents of participating communities can access a CSSLP application through their municipality. RIHousing’s role is to underwrite and administer those loans. When a community has depleted their funding, they apply to Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for additional funds. Homeowners who apply for funding before additional funds are provided are placed on a wait list
Please contact your town or city directly to obtain applications, as each municipality has its own loan terms and program requirements.
This program provides homeowners, in participating communities, a low-cost loan to connect to the local sewer system and abandon their individual septic system or cesspool.
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank makes loans of up to $150,000 to the sewer system owner. The system owner then directs the STILF funds to individual homeowners through RIHousing. Upon notification by the sewer system owner that the individual property owner qualifies for the local tie-in program, RIHousing will process the loan applications, cut checks to the vendors and process loan repayments.
Please contact your town or city directly to obtain applications, as each municipality has its own loan terms and program requirements.
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).