Is Rhode Island's Housing Agency Doing Enough?

A Republican leader in Rhode Island's House of Representatives is pushing for a closer look at how the state's housing finance agency is spending money. He believes there might be some overlap with another agency, and he wants to make sure that every dollar is being used wisely. The leader, who prefers smaller government, has asked for a performance audit. This is not about pointing fingers, he says, but about making sure that the agency is doing its job well. He thinks that the current audits only check if the money is being spent correctly, not if it's being spent in the best way. The head of the housing agency, RIHousing, says that the agency is doing a lot of important work. They help people buy homes, finance affordable housing, and provide rental assistance. About one in every ten households in Rhode Island has been helped by one of their programs. She says that the agency is efficient, transparent, and important, especially during the current housing crisis. But the Republican leader is not convinced. He thinks that the agency is not being clear about how much new housing is being created with federal money. He says that some projects are being labeled as "new development" when they include both new construction and rehabilitation work. He also thinks that the agency's audits do not show if the projects are cost-effective or if the money is being used strategically. The leader knows that the state auditor's office is busy, so he suggests hiring an outside firm to do the performance audit. He does not know how much it will cost, but he thinks that it will be worth it. The leader did not ask for a vote on his proposal at a recent meeting, but he hopes that the committee will consider it at their next meeting. He says that this is not a political stunt, but a serious attempt to improve the state's housing finance agency. The head of the committee, a Democrat, urged both sides to talk to each other before the next meeting. He said that the committee will give the proposal a fair review and that they are concerned about how taxpayer dollars are being used.