For many families, homeownership is more than an important financial investment; it is the embodiment of the American Dream.  As a former Housing Court Judge, I am all too familiar with the struggles Providence residents go through in order to hold onto their homes. 

As Mayor, I will work hard to end the foreclosure crisis, move families back into homes and restore hope and opportunity to our neighborhoods.

 As Mayor, I will maximize options for affordable housing in Providence by:

• Moving to put abandoned houses into receivership and have our local housing non-profit organizations rehabilitate and offer them as affordable housing in the neighborhood.

• Aggressively pursue the irresponsible lenders who gave out the toxic loans that got us into this crisis as well as the growing number of rescue scam operators.
• Directing my Office of Neighborhood Services to work with Rhode Island Housing in maximizing foreclosure prevention outreach efforts in Providence.

• Connecting eligible applicants on the Providence Housing Authority waitlist for emergency interim housing opportunities.

• Strictly enforcing the City’s foreclosure mediation requirement.

• Leveraging federal and state dollars to help the Providence Housing Authority obtain additional housing units for eligible applicants.

• Invest in lead hazard and other environmental toxin removal programs, as well as programs that assist in weatherization and other energy conservation measures.

• Directing the Providence Housing Authority, in partnership with the Office of Neighborhood Services and nonprofit community organizations to offer financial literacy education to homeowners and prospective homebuyers.  These literacy programs will assist low-income borrowers in accessing low-cost credit, avoiding risky financial instruments like subprime loans, taking advantage of refinancing options and improving their credit histories.