Neighborly Actions: Housing Matters

Commenting guide for the PVD Consolidated Plan, rent stabilization picnic, and organizing for a rent strike if these things don't work.

Hi, everyone. This is a Providence-specific and housing-centric newsletter (although people in other towns may want to check it out for mechanisms and methods they could also use). I will also do another, more general one later this week.

Saturday, August 2, BY 5pm, remotely: Comments on Providence's plan for affordable, public, & supportive housing are DUE at 5pm on August 2. Here's a guide I made for you, which includes instructions for sending your written comment, links to the plan and some other relevant sources, my recommendations and some possible talking points, and some brief notes on what I saw in the plan to support those recommendations.

Sunday, August 3, 11am-1pm, Dexter Park, Providence: The PVD City Council is hosting a public conversation about rent stabilization and their plans to address our city’s housing crisis. There will be free food and music, as well as games and a bouncy house. This is a great time and place to ask your questions! I’m absolutely going to this although I may be a little late.

Anytime after now: If you’re a tenant and you’re worried that these measures will be insufficient for getting everyone safely housed, or if you just want to stand with tenants throughout the city, get in touch with the Providence Organization of Workers and Renters, who are building coordination and organization in case a rent strike is needed. You can use their website or their Instagram to reach out.

With love,
Kate