Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Existing Conditions | Page 77

5 Housing

delivery system of HUD as it has implemented housing construction in Rhode Island for low- and moderate-income
persons and families.
Newport falls within the East Bay Market Area, along with
Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton,
Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren. In 2010,
the share of Households for the East Bay Market Area was
54,061. This represents a decrease of 200 Households
from 2000. (Source: Rhode Island, Regional Analysis of
Impediments, August 2015).

State population projections
show decreases in Newport’s
population through the year
2040. Specifically, the population
in Newport is projected to be
18,758 in 2040. This means that
around 9,195 housing units will
be required to house the
projected population,
significantly less than the 13,170
that Newport had in 2014. Given
this trend, significant growth in
the City’s housing stock is not
expected, however, the city may
experience housing
redevelopment and
modifications to serve the needs
of an aging population.

In planning for future housing in the community, it is
important to consider the fiscal impacts on the city's
property tax base. State Law provides the basis for
property tax exemptions under the General Laws of Rhode
Island. The general public may not be aware that much of
the special needs and assisted housing in Newport pay
their fair share of property taxes. One fiscal issue relevant
to subsidized housing is the cost of city services related to
these facilities. It has been estimated that, in 1990,
approximately 16.8% of all children in the public school
system lived in public housing, and an additional 19.4%
lived in military housing. An in-depth cost analysis of this
situation is beyond the scope of this Comprehensive Plan;
nevertheless, it is important to note that the federal government's formula for supporting military housing students in
the local school system provides for less than 10% of the expense for that student. The State support for students
from public housing is even less. While this support is helpful, it in no way defrays the cost of educating a student
living in housing that does not generate supportive taxes.

Homelessness

Homelessness is a problem that doesn’t follow jurisdictional borders. As such, there are a number of regional efforts
to support the homeless in Rhode Island. An Aquidneck Island group called the Newport Citizens to End Homelessness
has a goal educate the community about issues surrounding homelessness. They host a number of events throughout
the year, including a weeklong even that encourages communities, civic organizations, religious congregations, and
the general public to think about the needs of homeless individuals.
On the statewide level, there is the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. The Coalition’s mission is to pursue
comprehensive and cooperative solutions to the issues of housing and homelessness. Above all, they want to help the
men, women, and children experiencing homelessness by increasing their quality of life. Statewide statistics show
that in 2014, there were 4,067 people experiencing homelessness, which is just about 400 less than there were in
2013.
There are three shelters on Aquidneck Island recognized by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. The