AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

This bill amends the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act to explicitly include mobile and manufactured homes as a form of affordable housing under specific conditions. To qualify, these homes must serve as a primary residence, be located on land owned by the occupant or a resident-owned community, have been built after June 15, 1976, and meet federal safety standards. The legislation also updates the state's strategic housing plan to address the needs of various populations, including low-income families, students, and older citizens, while defining affordable housing based on income thresholds relative to area median income. By broadening the definition of eligible housing types, the law aims to expand the inventory of affordable options available to residents without changing the core funding mechanisms for housing development.