June is 'Home Ownership Month'

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- June has been declared "National Home Ownership Month", and the state of Rhode Island will be holding many events focusing on affordable housing options in the area.

The Housing Network of Rhode Island is made up of community development groups that build affordable housing throughout the state, which has become very important with the current state of the economy.

"Affordable housing, just like regular, market rent housing, has been very difficult," said Chris Hannifan, the Housing Network's Executive Director. "The last few years it's become very difficult for people to be able to purchase a home."

The network sponsors the largest home ownership education program in the Ocean State.

"We see probably 500 to 700 people a year that go through our programs that really get a very good basis to be able to understand what it is to own a home," added Hannifan.

The program also includes one-on-one sessions for homeowners so they can sit down with a counselor and go over specific problems or questions one may have.