Why can’t Rhode Islanders afford to live where they work? Why are evictions rising? And what legal protections — if any — exist for people at risk of losing their homes?

In this powerful episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen tackle the state’s growing housing crisis. They’re joined by Brenda Clement, Executive Director of HousingWorks RI, and Susie Harrington-Steppen, Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs at RWU Law, to unpack the legal, economic, and human realities of unaffordable housing and increasing evictions across Rhode Island.

In this episode, we cover:

• What “affordable housing” actually means (and why it’s out of reach for many)

• How local zoning laws and outdated housing stock are holding Rhode Island back

• Why eviction filings are back to pre-pandemic levels — and who’s being hit hardest

• What legal resources exist for tenants and where the system falls short

• The link between substandard housing, health, and education outcomes

• What the future of housing in RI could look like with new legislation and advocacy

Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this episode reveals how deeply housing affects everyone — and why we all need to be part of the solution.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible.

In the debut episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, we dig into one of Rhode Island’s most disruptive infrastructure failures — the sudden closure of the Washington Bridge. Joined by investigative reporter Ted Nesi (WPRI 12), we break down the legal, political, and economic fallout of the bridge shutdown, which paralyzed traffic and prompted lawsuits, public outcry, and questions about government accountability.

This episode unpacks:

• Why the state filed suit against contractors
• What the bridge’s unusual structure had to do with the collapse risk
• How public records laws and lack of transparency fueled public distrust
• The broader implications for infrastructure management and state leadership
• What comes next for commuters, businesses, and elected officials as 2026 elections loom

If you’ve ever sat in Washington Bridge traffic, wondered who’s to blame, or questioned whether the system failed — this episode is for you.

📍 Perfect for Rhode Islanders, commuters, legal minds, and anyone interested in how law and public policy collide in times of crisis.

Law 401 is a podcast from Roger Williams University School of Law that unpacks timely and relevant legal topics impacting Rhode Islanders. Hosts Nicole Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen guide listeners through these complex issues with insightful, jargon-free conversations—and a bit of fun—making the law more accessible, one episode at a time. RWU Law is the only law school in Rhode Island.

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