Elected and housing officials mark beginning of renovation on 82 affordable senior and disabled housing units in Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI – Congressman Seth Magaziner, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard joined the Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH) and RIHousing today to celebrate the start of rehabilitation work on Pocasset Manor in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. Built in 1982 as affordable senior and disabled housing, POAH purchased the property in 2006 to ensure that tenants would not be priced out of their homes.

Pocasset Manor is an 11-story, 82-unit development for seniors earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income, which for one person is up to $48,060. The purchase of Pocasset by POAH also included nearby Hillcrest Village, with units reserved for seniors, and Hillside Village, which has affordable housing for families. Pocasset was last renovated in 2007. Updates on this round of necessary rehabilitation will include upgrades to kitchens, baths, and finishes, a new roof, full-building WiFi, new washers and dryers, and elevator modernization.

Funding for changes to Pocasset include over $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), which was inspired by Senator Jack Reed’s Green Retrofits Act. GRRP awarded funds specifically to existing affordable housing developments to implement or update energy efficient and climate resilience measures. Pocasset Manor is using their GRRP funds on a variety of green and energy efficiency upgrades that will bring the building up to current design and accessibility standards and improve quality of life for residents.

“This project is good news for the residents of Pocasset Manor and taxpayers alike. Through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program that I helped create and other federal housing programs that I support, POAH is utilizing federal investments to preserve critical affordable housing here in Providence while smartly reducing our carbon footprint, lowering energy costs, and building on community assets at the property,” said Senator Jack Reed, who helped support over $12 million in federal funding for the upgrades. “This rehabilitation project will help to ensure Pocasset Manor can continue to offer safe, healthy, affordable homes for older Rhode Islanders and people with disabilities for decades to come.”

“Every Rhode Islander deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “The rehabilitation of Pocasset Manor is a major step toward ensuring that seniors and people with disabilities can continue to live safely and with dignity. This project shows what’s possible when local, state, and federal partners work together to invest in housing.”

RIHousing’s 2024 Low- and Moderate-Income Housing chart shows that Providence had the largest addition of newly deed-restricted units across the state last year; with the kickoff of renovation for Pocasset Manor and similar projects in the pipeline, the city is navigating the balance of building new affordable homes while preserving the ones that already exist.

"Investing in safe, affordable and sustainable housing for our seniors is a priority in Providence," said Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "The improvements at Pocasset Manor ensure that our older residents can age with dignity in modern, energy-efficient homes and reflect our broader commitment to environmental responsibility and community wellbeing. I'm grateful to POAH, RIHousing and our federal partners for their leadership in advancing housing that is both affordable and resilient."

“We are excited to begin the renovations of Pocasset Manor and we are grateful to all of our funders, especially RIHousing, for the substantial investments they are making for our residents,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH). “We look forward to working together in the very near future to renovate additional POAH properties in Providence.”

In addition to GRRP, Pocasset Manor has secured renovation support from several sources, including an RIHousing First Mortgage and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits—a program administered by RIHousing that plays a vital role in both developing and preserving affordable homes across Rhode Island. As part of this transaction, the development has been placed under a new deed restriction, extending Pocasset’s affordability for another 30 years and ensuring a stable, long-term housing option for current and future tenants.

“As we work to build new affordable homes across our state, we must also protect the ones we already have,” said Secretary of Housing Deborah Goddard. “Preservation is the twin of production—we can't meet our housing goals without both. Housing 2030 sets bold but achievable targets and reaching them requires the right balance between creating new units and preserving existing ones. I’m grateful to POAH for their commitment to this work and look forward to seeing preservation efforts continue across Rhode Island.”

"As we focus on the expansion of affordable housing in Rhode Island, we must continue to maintain and preserve the affordable homes we already have,” said Carol Ventura, CEO & Executive Director of RIHousing. “RIHousing is proud to offer funding support to assist in upgrades to existing affordable housing developments, bringing them to current standards and providing residents with modern, updated infrastructure and living spaces.” Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc., headquartered in Boston,

About RIHousing
RIHousing works to ensure that all people who live in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. RIHousing provides loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, RIHousing is a self-sustaining corporation and receives no state funding for operations. For more information regarding RIHousing, visit RIHousing.com or follow us @RIHousing on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

About POAH
Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that preserves, creates, and sustains affordable, healthy homes that support economic security and access to opportunity for all. POAH has built or preserved 140 housing communities across 13 states and the District of Columbia, providing more than 14,000 affordable homes. The organization is committed to ensuring that residents have access not just to quality affordable housing, but to the comprehensive services and opportunities they need to thrive. Learn more at www.poah.org.