HousingWorks RI moves its operations to RWU, creates new opportunities for faculty and staff to partner on housing research and policy initiatives

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HousingWorks RI and RWU Expand Partnership

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUFeatured News Story The Week at Roger7-16-2014HousingWorks RI and RWU Expand PartnershipPublic Affairs, Roger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_newsPart of the Higher Education CommonsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Week at Roger at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in FeaturedNews Story by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationPublic Affairs, Roger Williams University, "HousingWorks RI and RWU Expand Partnership" (2014). Featured News Story. 425.https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_news/425 News ArchiveHousingWorks RI and RWU Expand PartnershipHousingWorks RI moves its operations to RWU, creates new opportunities forfaculty and sta  to partner on housing research and policy initiativesJuly 16, 2014 Public A airs Sta BRISTOL, R.I., – On the heels of a synergetic collaboration that began in 2012, Roger WilliamsUniversity has fully integrated HousingWorks RI (HWRI) into its Division of University Outreach andEngagement, as of July 1. HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University will continue to be housed atthe University’s Providence campus at 150 Washington Street. The completed integration createsfurther synergy between the strategic objectives of RWU and the research, policy and communicationswork of HWRI. On top of the expanded partnership, Nicole Lagace has been named Director and willlead HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University in furthering its position as the authoritative sourceof information about housing in Rhode Island.“Whether it’s our faculty sharing academic expertise or our students leading real-world projects withlocal organizations, the University is committed to serving the greater community. Expanding ourpartnership with HousingWorks RI is yet one more way we can continue that commitment,” saidPresident Farish. “The long history of support from The Rhode Island Foundation, Rhode IslandHousing and the United Way of Rhode Island coupled with our campus resources and eager studentbody will position HousingWorks RI to further advance important policy discussions in our state aroundhousing a ordability and the economy.”HousingWorks RI was formed in 2004 to address a growing economic development concern in RhodeIsland, the lack of housing considered a ordable for much of the state’s workforce. For ten years,HWRI’s important work has been made possible by its founding funders including The Rhode IslandFoundation, United Way of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Housing.“In the ten years since its inception, HousingWorks RI has played an instrumental role in advancinghousing a ordability as a public policy priority,” said Richard Godfrey, the executive director for RhodeIsland Housing. “We have invested in HousingWorks because its research and communications workdrives a national dialogue on the critical implications of housing a ordability on Rhode Island’seconomic future. We are thrilled that HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University will result in moreresearch and data analysis on policies to address housing a ordability.”Since the initial partnership, RWU and HWRI have collaborated on a number of initiatives. RWUstudents studying historic preservation and economics have already started to work alongside HWRIsta  to analyze data, gather research and publish their  ndings. Earlier this year, the Latino PolicyInstitute at Roger Williams University also collaborated with HWRI to release a second annual look atthe severe housing cost burden Latinos in Rhode Island are facing. The HWRI sta  have also served asguest lecturers to teach students about public policy, data analysis and applied research.“HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University o ers the University’s faculty and student community agreat environment for research and experiential learning on an important issue for our state,” saidAnthony Maione, President & CEO at United Way of Rhode Island. “United Way of RI has fundedHousingWorks RI from the beginning and we are pleased to see that Roger Williams University hasmade such an important commitment of resources to assure that HousingWorks will continue its factbased research on housing a ordability into the future. This is truly a win win for Rhode Island.” The expanded partnership grew out of the long-standing, campus-wide commitment to the greatercommunity valued at Roger Williams. The University maintains a wide array of partnerships andinitiatives that extend beyond the borders of campus and engage faculty and student expertise ontopics ranging from the marine environment, historic preservation and law to small business assistance,the arts, community development and more. HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University will fallunder the University’s Outreach and Engagement division alongside the Latino Policy Institute,Community Partnerships Center, Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Engagement, FeinsteinCenter for Pro Bono and Experiential Education and the RWU Career Center.“We are proud of our work with HousingWorks RI and partners like the United Way and Rhode IslandHousing over the years. This new relationship with Roger Williams University will enable theorganization to continue the crucial work of providing policymakers and the public with solid data andcontext around the importance of investing in healthy and a ordable housing,” said Neil Steinberg,president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University will be led by Nicole Lagace who has served as itscommunications director for  ve years and stepped in as interim executive director last year. Lagacebrings over a decade of strategic communications and leadership experience to the role. AtHousingWorks RI, she grew the organization’s communication initiatives and managed all publicrelations activities including its annual Housing Fact Book, and other special reports. She has spokennationally on how to translate complex data with easy to understand communications tools as well asintegrating social media into a strategic communications plan. Previously, Lagace served as director ofpublic relations for the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.“I am thrilled to continue to lead HousingWorks in this new phase at Roger Williams University,” Lagacesaid. “I'm con dent that our new home, and its granted opportunity to collaborate with such talentedsta , faculty and students, will only strengthen the work of HousingWorks RI and help us advancehousing a ordability as a public policy priority, essential to Rhode Island’s economic future.”

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HousingWorks RI and RWU Expand Partnership

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