RIHousing Developers Handbook

Technical guidance and requirements for building affordable homes.

Your guide to financing, submitting proposals, and meeting development criteria.

The Developer’s Handbook is the guide to submitting a request for financing the construction, acquisition or restoration of apartments to help ensure that all Rhode Islanders can afford a safe, healthy home. Priority will be given to proposals that revitalize neighborhoods with aging housing stock, serve families or build apartments in areas where affordable rental homes are hard to find. Proposals must serve households earning no more than 60 percent of area median family income.

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Download Handbooks

Use the links below to view individual sections of the Developers Handbook. The complete Developers Handbook can be downloaded using this link.

The 2026 Developers Handbook—Updates shows changes made to the Developers Handbook.

Introduction & Table of Contents

Our Mission: RIHousing strives to ensure that all people who live or work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs.

Have questions or need assistance?

Are you a Newport resident?

Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract.

Newport-Census-Map

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).

Data mapped by PolicyMap, an online GIS mapping tool.

Do you live in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Newport or East Providence?

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).