R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 42-11.2 § 42-11.2-11
Tenant eligibility
Operative Text
(a) In order to be eligible to reside in a unit assisted under this chapter, the tenant must be a low-income family as defined in § 42-11.2-3. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a tenant is eligible to reside in a unit assisted under this chapter if: (1) The tenant was a low-income family at the time the tenant initially moved into the unit assisted under this chapter; or (2) The tenant resided in the unit assisted under this chapter at the time that the unit first became assisted under this chapter. (c)(1) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state property that can accommodate up to five (5) homeless individuals shall not permit more than one bed to be utilized by persons registered, or who are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction. (2) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state property that can accommodate not less than six (6) nor more than twenty (20) homeless individuals shall not permit more than two (2) beds to be utilized by persons registered, or who are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction. (3) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state property that can accommodate at least twenty-one (21) and no more than fifty (50) homeless individuals shall not permit more than five (5) of the beds in the facility to be utilized to shelter persons who are registered, or are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction. (4) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state property that can accommodate more than fifty (50) homeless individuals shall not permit more than ten percent (10%) of the beds in the facility to be utilized to shelter persons who are registered, or are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction. (5) The state shall not establish nor maintain any homeless shelter within one thousand feet (1,000′) of a homeless shelter in existence as of January 1, 2017. (6) None of the limitations and restrictions in subsections (c)(1) through (c)(5) shall apply to any healthcare facility.
Rhode Island General Laws § 42-11.2-11 establishes who may live in state-assisted housing units and sets occupancy rules for certain homeless shelters on state property. To qualify for an assisted unit, a household generally must meet the low-income definition, though tenants who qualified when they first moved in—or who were already living in a unit when it became assisted—retain their eligibility. Separately, homeless shelters on state property must cap the number of beds available to registered sex offenders based on the shelter's total capacity, and no new state shelter may be sited within 1,000 feet of an existing one, with healthcare facilities exempt from these restrictions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and managers of state-assisted housing covered by § 42-11.2-11 generally verify that incoming tenants meet the low-income family definition at the time of initial occupancy, while recognizing that existing tenants who qualified at move-in or at the time the unit first became assisted retain their eligibility without re-qualification. For operators of homeless shelters located on state property, compliant facilities track the number of beds occupied by registered sex offenders and ensure that count does not exceed the caps tied to the shelter's total bed capacity as specified in § 42-11.2-11(c). Facilities that function as healthcare facilities are not subject to the sex-offender bed-cap or proximity restrictions under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 42-11.2-11, tenants in state-assisted housing who qualified as a low-income family when they first moved in, or who were already residing in a unit when it became assisted, generally retain their eligibility to remain even if their income later changes. Tenants who believe their eligibility has been improperly challenged may find it useful to document their original move-in date and income status, and can explore options such as raising the eligibility protections of § 42-11.2-11 in any administrative proceeding or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Rhode Island housing law. Residents of state-operated homeless shelters may also reference the bed-cap and siting rules in subsection (c) if they have concerns about shelter conditions or placement policies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation