Creating Affordable Housing in Pawtucket

Finding affordable housing is a challenge across the country. To help make a difference, Rhode Island Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) funds non-profit community development corporations that are working to find solutions.

The Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation (PCFD) is one of LISC’s partners and a member of the Health Equity Zone. One of PCFD’s strategies is to find vacant properties and renovate them into homes that sell at prices well below the going rate. That way, families can find a safe, affordable home.

The Souzas had been looking for a home for more than two years, but nothing available was financially within their reach. The family worked with PCFD and other partners to improve their credit score and gather all the paperwork. When they finally were told that they were approved, the parents wanted to surprise their two kids—one in middle school, the other a high school junior. The family had been looking for a house for so long—and they had been disappointed so many times in the process—the parents knew the kids wouldn’t believe it until they saw it. This photo was taken at the ribbon cutting when they found out that the house would now be their new home.