Agency awards subsidies to three new construction projects that will add 361 units of housing, most of them affordable, in Providence; ten PBVs awarded in partnership with VA Medical Center

PROVIDENCE – The Board of Commissioners of the Providence Housing Authority (PHA) has approved the award of 50 Project Based Vouchers to three developers of new affordable housing in the city of Providence through the PHA’s 2022 request for proposals. The projects awarded will bring 361 new units of housing to Providence, most of them affordable, in 2024 and 2025.

“The PHA is thrilled to select these three projects for Project Based Voucher awards,” said Melissa Sanzaro, Executive Director. “These awards help the PHA advance our strategic goal of partnering to build and preserve much needed affordable housing in our community. What is especially important now is being able to secure housing units for the extremely low-income individuals and families who we serve.”

Project Based Vouchers are a way for public housing authorities to dedicate a portion of their housing choice vouchers to specific developments, thereby providing affordable housing developers with a dedicated revenue source and the ability to serve the lowest income clients.

The awards will provide housing opportunities for extremely low-income tenants and guaranteed rental income to developers and owners of the following three new affordable housing developments for at least 20 years:

Copley Chambers II and III – Developer is Marathon Construction – Eight project based vouchers in two buildings that will have 124 units of new affordable housing on Broad and Summer Streets in Providence. Supportive service partners include Adoption Rhode Island and House of Hope.

Parcel 9 East Building – Developer is Pennrose – Eight Project Based Vouchers in a project being built on former 195 land. The total development will include 61 units of mixed income housing.

Summer Street Housing – Developer is Crossroads Rhode Island – 34 Project Based Vouchers in a 176 unit building being built on Summer Street to provide deeply subsidized housing to formerly homeless individuals. All units will be 1 bedrooms. Of the 34 PBVs, ten will be dedicated to the HUD-VASH program which serves homeless veterans.

“The VA Providence Healthcare System has been proud to partner with the Providence Housing Authority on this RFP,” said Lisa Luedke, HUD-VASH Program Manager for the VA Providence HCS. “PHA has been a great partner with the HUD-VASH Program for approximately 14 years. We are excited for the opportunity to dedicate 10 HUD-VASH vouchers at the Crossroads’ Summer Street development. This partnership with PHA and Crossroads will enhance housing opportunities in the

City of Providence and house 10 homeless Veterans. We are confident that this development will meet their unique needs of our Veterans.”

PHA selected recommended recipients through a review process that included staff across PHA departments, and representatives of the Providence VA Medical Center. The awards are subject to a local environmental review and, for the new construction projects, a subsidy layering review by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before the PHA can sign contracts with the owners.

Currently, PHA has 237 project-based vouchers under contract, with 32 additional PBVs pending completion of construction in four affordable housing developments across the city of Providence. These awards bring PHA’s total number of under contract and awarded PBVs to 319, with 158 of those PBVs awarded since 2019.

PBV awards are funded by allocating tenant-based vouchers from the PHA’s Housing Choice Voucher program. The agency administers more than 2,700 tenant based and project-based vouchers, in addition to owning and operating over 2,600 units of public housing.