Attainable Housing

One of the greatest challenges facing Newport today is the shortage of attainable housing for our middle-income workforce.

Teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, hospitality workers, small business employees, military personnel, tradespeople, young professionals, and many longtime residents increasingly find themselves priced out of the community they serve.

These are the people who keep Newport running every day, yet too many are forced to commute from neighboring communities because they cannot afford to live here.

At the same time, many longtime residents and seniors living on fixed incomes face rising housing costs and property taxes that make remaining in their homes increasingly difficult.

Housing is no longer simply a social issue—it is an economic development issue, a workforce issue, a public safety issue, and ultimately a quality-of-life issue.

When workers cannot afford to live where they work, employers struggle to recruit and retain employees, businesses face staffing shortages, traffic congestion increases as more commuters travel into the city each day, and neighborhood stability begins to erode.

Newport’s housing challenges did not develop overnight, and they will not be solved with a single policy.

The housing market has been shaped by several factors, including limited developable land, rising construction costs, increasing property values, strong demand for second homes, the growth of short-term rentals, and a regional shortage of workforce housing.

Addressing these issues requires a thoughtful, balanced, long-term strategy that protects existing neighborhoods while expanding housing opportunities for year-round residents.

During my first term on the City Council, I sponsored the resolution establishing a Housing Commission, which was approved by the Council.

The Housing Commission will provide a dedicated forum to evaluate Newport’s housing challenges, study best practices, engage residents and stakeholders, and recommend practical, long-term housing policies that support both current and future generations.

Creating the Commission was an important first step toward ensuring that housing remains a priority rather than a periodic discussion driven only by crises.

Moving forward, I believe Newport should continue focusing on policies that:

• Expand attainable homeownership opportunities for middle-income families.

• Increase year-round workforce housing for individuals employed in Newport.

• Encourage responsible redevelopment and redevelopment of underutilized properties where appropriate.

• Preserve existing neighborhood character while accommodating thoughtful growth.

• Continue evaluating the impacts of short-term and seasonal rentals on the year-round housing supply.

• Partner with state agencies, neighboring communities, employers, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to identify innovative housing solutions.

• Pursue state and federal funding opportunities that support workforce housing initiatives.

• Continue reviewing zoning and land-use policies to remove unnecessary barriers to appropriate housing development.

Housing is not simply about constructing more units—it is about creating opportunities for people to build their lives in Newport.

Our teachers should be able to live in the community where they educate our children. Our first responders should be able to live in the neighborhoods they protect. Our healthcare professionals, military families, hospitality workers, tradespeople, and young professionals should be able to build careers and raise families without being forced to leave because housing has become unattainable.

Newport’s future depends on maintaining a healthy mix of residents from all walks of life. A strong workforce, vibrant neighborhoods, successful businesses, and excellent public services all rely on people being able to afford to call Newport home.

By pursuing balanced, data-driven housing policies, we can protect the character of our city while ensuring that Newport remains a place where people can not only visit—but also live, work, raise a family, and retire with dignity.