A rental assistance proposal by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley is facing scrutiny from the city council.
If approved, the RENT program would allow landlords to receive payments of up to $3,000 on behalf of cash-strapped tenants.
But Providence city councilor Jill Davidson says the measure doesn’t contain safeguards for the renters it’s supposed to help.
“There are no obligations on the part of a landlord to protect the tenant’s rights,” said Davidson. “So it could be that the tenant could ask for assistance and then have their rent raised at the nearest possible opportunity.”
Davidson says landlords who receive payments should be required to meet specific conditions, such as holding the line on rent or waiving a tenant’s late fees.
If a landlord ultimately evicts a tenant after receiving funding on their behalf, Davidson believes the money should be returned to the city. The proposal, in its current form, includes no such stipulations.
“We’re concerned about landlords that choose to raise rent as much as they wish,” said Davidson. “There are no protections right now that would prevent them from doing so.”
$1 million has already been set aside for the RENT program. The city council’s Special Committee on Ways and Means is expected to meet in the coming weeks to consider changes to the proposal.
Mayor Smiley sponsored the measure after vetoing a rent stabilization plan in April. He claims delaying the rollout of the RENT program is irresponsible.
“We should be providing relief to neighbors today, not in September or October,” said Smiley. “I am deeply disappointed that the City Council has decided to play political games while Providence families are the ones who will bear these consequences.”
Jill Davidson disagrees. In her mind, the council is simply doing its due diligence.
“I think everybody is trying to meet the huge, urgent, demonstrated need for renters in this city to not be priced out, evicted, and displaced, which is happening more and more in our neighborhoods,” said Davidson. “I think the question is what kind of response are you going to have to it.”
Davidson says she’s confident the city council and Mayor Smiley will find common ground on how to implement the RENT program. And while she supports the measure in principle, Davidson doesn’t think a $1 million rental assistance fund goes far enough.
“I would prefer to see a more sustainable response than a one-time program that will help a very small percentage of households with what is a very large and systemic problem,” said Davidson.
“We have to do something to protect renters and to create stability.”
