Q: Let’s get this out of the way off the top. You’ve said you’re not planning to apply for the state housing secretary position. What advice do you have for Governor Dan McKee and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi as they search for a new secretary?
Hawkins: That’s correct.
Ultimately, the choice of who to appoint rests with Governor McKee, but I know that he and Speaker Shekarchi have partnered closely on housing. I believe it’s important that they act quickly and identify a leader who is committed to this work, who has a clear track record of accomplishment, and who will work collaboratively with housing developers, builders, and service providers to accelerate housing production, most especially for our lowest income residents. I believe the housing department is a vital state agency and needs strong and stable leadership.
Q: You’ve understood many of the challenges our state faces in housing ever since taking the job nearly 11 years ago, but a major change since that time is that housing is now a top-of-mind issue for many Rhode Islanders. Do you consider that a sign of success or does it actually highlight that the problem around housing has gotten worse?
Hawkins: Can it be both? Housing developers and advocates have been sounding the alarm on the housing crisis for years and I think that’s why it’s become top-of-mind. The housing community came together at the beginning of the pandemic when we saw very clearly that housing is a public health issue and through that collaboration, we were able to show policy makers how our organizations were making an impact. It’s also true, though, that as housing has emerged as a top issue in state houses across the country and on the pages of newspapers like yours, it’s remained a top issue because the crisis is compounding. And that’s because we’re not building housing quickly enough to truly address the crisis. We can’t simply snap our fingers and build the thousands of homes that are necessary to resolve the housing supply gap in Rhode Island. But, looking back, had we consistently invested state resources in construction capital and reformed zoning laws a decade ago, we might not be in the situation we’re in today.
Q: ONE Neighborhood Builders is now one of the most successful community development corporations in the state. What have you gotten right?
Hawkins: For us, it starts with proven partnerships. We have strong relationships with local leaders in all our communities and those are built on trust and transparency. In the last 18 months, we’ve cut the ribbon on two developments in East Providence and are accelerating construction on another. None of those projects would have moved ahead without a strong relationship with Mayor Bob DaSilva and his planning team. The other thing we’ve done is authentically included community members in our work, and not just in housing. One of the things I’m most proud of is the participatory budgeting initiative we led in Central Providence and the community business loan program we launched. When we invest resources in the neighborhood economy and provide residents with direct control of real capital investment, we solidify the foundation that’s needed to build community wealth. It’s initiatives like those that I hope other CDCs in Rhode Island and across the region will replicate.
Q: The housing crisis clearly isn’t going away anytime soon. What’s the next big challenge that Rhode Islanders should know about?
Hawkins: We need to tackle zoning that precludes sensible density – I’m sure you know that only 8 percent of the state has multifamily (4+ units) zoning that is by-right? The reforms Speaker Shekarchi put forward last year and this year have forced a conversation about zoning and red tape. But we have 39 different standards in Rhode Island. I hope state and local leaders look hard at the challenges that are manufactured by idiosyncratic local zoning and planning ordinances.
Q: What’s next for you?
Hawkins: I’ve spent my entire career – 25 years – working in housing and community development. I’m truly looking forward to taking a mini sabbatical this fall, visiting colleges with my daughter, and figuring out what my next chapter will be. I enjoyed working in Boston and New York City in the past, and while I love Rhode Island and the Ocean State will always be my home, working outside of the state is intriguing. Whatever I do next, I know I want it to be at least as meaningful and impactful as the work I’ve had the opportunity to do with my colleagues at ONE Neighborhood Builders.
This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
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Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.