Friends Meeting Recap | March 11, 2026
Neighbors Welcome! RI Kicks Off 2026 Advocacy with New Leadership and Housing Agenda
Neighbors Welcome members and supporters gathered to focus on the organization’s growing statewide network and the housing policies needed to help Rhode Island build more homes.
The meeting marked an important milestone for the three-year-old nonprofit. Board President Claudia Wack announced that Kristina Brown has been appointed as the organization’s first Executive Director, reflecting the rapid growth of the housing advocacy network.
With dedicated staff leadership in place, Neighbors Welcome is expanding its efforts to pass state legislation while mobilizing residents across Rhode Island to support housing solutions in their own communities.
2026 Policy Platform
Kristina Brown presented the organization’s 2026 policy platform, highlighting five key bills currently being championed at the State House:
Minimum Lot Size Reform
Reducing minimum lot size requirements so more homes can be built where water and sewer infrastructure already exists.
Parking Reform
Capping excessive minimum parking requirements that often add tens of thousands of dollars to housing construction costs and make projects infeasible.
Conversion Incentives
Creating tools to help convert vacant office buildings, schools, and other underused structures into much-needed housing.
Technical Fixes to Existing Housing Laws
Improving and clarifying housing legislation passed in recent years so it works more effectively on the ground.
Faith-Based Affordable Housing (YIGBY)
Streamlining the development of affordable housing on land owned by faith-based institutions.
Additional priorities discussed included support for the proposed 2026 housing bond, right to counsel legislation for tenants, and continued investment in programs such as the historic tax credit and the RIPTA transit system, which supports housing access and mobility.
Responding to Local Resistance
We also discussed growing resistance to state housing laws at the local level. In particular, attendees raised concerns about a resolution recently passed in Portsmouth asserting non-compliance with state affordable housing requirements. Similar resolutions seem to be emerging in other communities.
Neighbors Welcome will track which municipalities are adopting these measures and work with local residents to build a strong counter-narrative emphasizing the need for housing across Rhode Island.
We offered support to community members interested in writing letters to the editor, op-eds, or public testimony in support of housing development. Get in touch if you would like to get involved
Expanding the Network
We discussed several ideas to strengthen advocacy across Rhode Island, including:
Creating a system to connect supporters within the same municipality
Boosting community turnout for key local initiatives such as Woonsocket’s proposed parking reform ordinance
Exploring a student observer program in which students attend zoning and planning board meetings to document proceedings and increase transparency
Looking Ahead
Neighbors Welcome! RI continues to grow its network of advocates across all five counties, working toward a shared goal: ensuring Rhode Island communities have room for the people who live and work here.
Residents interested in getting involved can support local housing efforts, attend community meetings, and help amplify the message that Rhode Island needs more homes.
