WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced today that three NeighborWorks America (NeighborWorks) organizations in Rhode Island will receive a total of $656,000 in federal funding to support their ongoing efforts.  NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (NWBRV) will receive $258,000, while ONE Neighborhood Builders will receive $210,000, and West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation will receive $188,000.  Senator Reed has long advocated for these flexible federal grants that allow each organization to expand upon its mission of providing affordable housing opportunities, building strong neighborhoods and communities, creating new jobs, and stimulating the state’s economy.

“NeighborWorks, and more specifically these vital organizations, work incredibly hard to ensure that Rhode Islanders have access to affordable housing,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD).  Despite President Trump again proposing to de-fund NeighborWorks in his latest budget proposal, Senator Reed successfully secured $140 million for NeighborWorks in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill.  “This federal funding strengthens our neighborhoods and helps more Rhode Islanders afford safe, clean housing, while also creating jobs and stimulating our local economy.  I will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to assist organizations like NeighborWorks with providing more housing opportunities and moving our economy forward.”

From redeveloping vacant mills to constructing single family homes and neighborhood commercial space, NWBRV enriches neighborhood life in Northern Rhode Island.  NWBRV will utilize these funds primarily to develop the Greenridge project, which, when completed, will provide 96 affordable apartments for low-income families in Burrillville, as well as two commercial buildings on Pascoag Main Street, which will allow for their community health center to expand significantly and will also offer an additional 4,500 square feet of commercial space for new businesses.

West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation promotes the development of healthy, sustainable communities in Providence’s West End neighborhood by providing housing services and helping individuals and families to meet their affordable housing needs.  The organization is now in the planning stages of the Dunamis Project, an inter-generational housing and education effort aimed at lifting families out of poverty.  This project is in partnership with Roger Williams University and will support young parents with affordable housing while they earn a degree.

“West Elmwood Housing is pleased to receive this grant award to allow us to continue working with residents and our partners in making positive strides in community building and development.  Last year, more than 40 new homeowners were created through our education and real estate development work.  Congress’ financial support of NeighborWorks Organizations around the country plays a crucial role in that work for all of us,” said Sharon Conard-Wells, Executive Director of the West Elmwood Housing Corporation.

ONE Neighborhood Builders engages in comprehensive community development in the Olneyville and Elmwood neighborhoods of Providence through the construction of affordable housing, along with community building, resident engagement, individual asset building, and neighborhood stewardship.  ONE plans to help families in RI achieve homeownership by renovating several single-family homes and then offering those homes for sale.

“Through NeighborWorks America’s financial support and technical assistance in 2017, we were able to provide financial education to two hundred and twenty-six clients – thirty-two of which purchased their first home; developed forty-one homes for low-income families, and convened a broad coalition of thirteen agencies to promote health equity and community safety in Providence.  With the continued support of NWA and Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, ONE Neighborhood Builders will be able to realize greater comprehensive community development goals in the years to come,” said Jennifer Hawkins, Executive Director of ONE Neighborhood Builders.

NeighborWorks is a Congressionally-chartered nonprofit, which supports a network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations, located in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, by providing grants, technical assistance, and best-in-class training.  In fiscal year 2017, NeighborWorks funding leveraged nearly $8.3 billion in investments in communities across the country and over $35 million in Rhode Island.  Last year, the organization helped more than 455,000 families nationwide, including 2,035 in the Ocean State, to obtain affordable housing and counseling.  NeighborWorks organizations also created or maintained more than 43,600 jobs and helped 22,700 individuals and families purchase homes nationwide, including 199 jobs and 94 new homeowners in Rhode Island.