RIHousing Earns Two National Awards for Advancing Housing Reforms and Investing in its Workforce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2026

PROVIDENCE – RIHousing has received two national awards recognizing its work to help local communities put housing reforms into practice and its commitment to developing the employees who support housing opportunities for Rhode Islanders.

The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) recognized RIHousing through its 2026 Annual Awards for Program Excellence in two categories: Special Achievement, for its Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP), and Management Innovation: Human Resources, for its employee-driven approach to professional development.

“Creating more housing opportunities takes people who know how to move projects and programs forward, from a local city planner updating zoning rules to an employee helping someone buy their first home,” said Carol Ventura, CEO of RIHousing. “We’re proud to give our communities and our colleagues tools they can use to make a difference. These awards recognize the practical work our team brings to Rhode Island’s housing challenges every day.”

NCSHA’s Annual Awards for Program Excellence identify and elevate industry best practices and encourage continued innovation among state housing finance agencies.

“Rhode Island is making important progress in addressing the barriers that have made it difficult to build and preserve housing, and that progress depends both on strong policies and the people who put them into action,” said Deborah Goddard, Chairwoman of the RIHousing Board of Commissioners and Rhode Island Secretary of Housing. “These awards recognize RIHousing’s important role in helping communities navigate change while also building the knowledge and expertise within the agency to meet Rhode Island’s housing needs. I am proud to see this work recognized nationally and proud to call them a leading partner in the great progress Rhode Island has made.”

Helping communities put housing reforms into practice
Rhode Island has enacted more than 60 housing and land use reforms over five years to remove barriers to housing development. For cities and towns, implementing those changes at the municipal level requires expertise, staff time, and resources to translate complex state laws into local ordinances and processes.

Through MTAP, RIHousing developed ready-to-use ordinance templates, guidance, visual tools, and training resources to help communities understand the new requirements and their loca options. The agency developed and published its initial suite of resources in just seven weeks, giving municipalities time to incorporate changes before statutory deadlines.

The award submission documented assistance to 23 municipalities across 22 projects focused on updating land use and zoning ordinances. RIHousing also contracts with and pays consultants directly, reducing procurement burdens and allowing municipal staff to focus on implementation.

“Cities and towns play an instrumental role in addressing Rhode Island’s housing needs, but implementing significant zoning changes and new programs can place added demands on already limited municipal resources,” said Randy Rossi, Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns. “This technical assistance program has provided invaluable support to nearly all of our communities, equipping local officials with the tools and resources they need to plan for and support future housing development. This award is well-deserved, and the League is pleased to see RIHousing recognized for its commitment to helping municipalities meet these challenges.”

By providing consistent guidance and updating resources as additional reforms are enacted, RIHousing is helping local officials navigate changing requirements and giving developers a clearer understanding of the rules governing housing development.

Building expertise and opportunity within RIHousing
RIHousing’s second award recognizes the agency’s commitment to creating a workplace where employees can grow and build long-term careers. Employees across the agency help shape professional development opportunities, including training and mentoring initiatives that encourage collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development. These efforts help RIHousing attract, retain, and strengthen the skilled workforce needed to advance housing opportunities for Rhode Islanders.

In 2024, RIHousing delivered 13 training programs, with multiple sessions generating more than 730 registrations. The agency recorded 37 internal promotions between 2023 and 2025.

About RIHousing
RIHousing works to ensure that all people who live in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. RIHousing provides 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 self-sustaining corporation and receives no state funding for operations. For more information, visit www.rihousing.com.

Media Contact
Christine Hunsinger
chunsinger@rihousing.com