by Victoria Miele ’28 on April 23, 2026
News
So far in fiscal year 2026, Providence and the nation have faced increasing rates of inflation that have placed an incredible financial strain on families. In his proposed budget for 2027, Providence’s mayor, Brett Smiley, is attempting to unify the community, fight the affordability crisis that the city is facing, increase affordable housing opportunities, and rebuild city-owned infrastructure.
In the proposed budget, Mayor Smiley laid out a rent relief program that would help provide citizens with emergency assistance grants of up to $3,000 per household. This money would help prevent eviction, foreclosure, and other housing losses caused by unexpected financial challenges. This program would specifically assist households earning up to 80 percent of Area Median Income, with priority given to those who are earning at or below 60 percent of AMI. As of right now, the median household income for the city of Providence is about $66,000 to $68,000, based on data from 2024 through 2026.
Housing is a large problem nationwide, and Providence’s struggles are no different. Mayor Smiley stated, “At the heart of our affordability crisis is a shortage of housing that makes renting or owning a home increasingly difficult.” He went on to say that many families struggle with just temporary financial setbacks, which then can lead to eviction. He said, “We are tackling the root cause of the housing crisis by investing in the Providence Housing Trust Fund and working to build more affordable homes across our city.” This is immensely helpful for families in Providence as it provides them with immediate relief.
In addition, Mayor Smiley intends to continue streamlining the development process to accelerate the construction of new housing units, align housing with health and human services, and invest in and incentivize long-term affordable housing options. Currently, Providence is on the way to exceeding Rhode Island’s target housing production and will soon be building more homes per capita than Boston.
An area that Mayor Smiley has been working to strengthen during his time in office is the safety of Providence. In 2025, Providence Police removed a record number of illegal guns from Providence neighborhoods, and 2026 is on track to exceed the number from 2025. The plan is to continue this work in 2027 and invest in equipment for first responders to better protect themselves and citizens in emergency situations. Mayor Smiley stated, “We have brought violent crime in Providence to a 30-year-low,” meaning the lowest since 1990 when the data first started being collected.
Providence is continuing to face high interest rates and issues with infrastructure owned by the city of Providence that are in need of repair, such as pedestrian tunnels and bridges, public school facilities, roads, sidewalks, and water infrastructure. Mayor Smiley was proud to announce that in 2025, Providence filled over 5,000 potholes. This was a much larger number than in previous years, thanks to the purchase of a new asphalt machine. In addition, over 11 miles of road were fixed and 650 sidewalk projects were completed.
Mayor Smiley assured the community that, “Providence is and will remain a safe, welcoming community for all who choose to live, work, or visit our great city. Together, we are building a safer, more resilient and more united Providence.”
The full proposed FY2027 budget can be found at openbudget.providenceri.gov and is still subject to approval by the Providence City Council.