Barrington family forced from their home amidst rising Rhode Island rent

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WLNE) — As rental rates and inflation continue to rise in the Ocean State, some are being driven from their homes.

Barbara and Jack Ringland of Barrington are now looking for a new home, after their rent went from $950 to $1800.

Jack explained he received a letter, saying, “Effective the 15th of September, your rent is going to have to be $1800 a month.”

Jack is a disabled veteran who lives off social security and a small pension. As he and his wife have lived in the same house for 11 years.

The two are now forced to put an offer in to buy a new home but say it doesn’t fit Jack’s needs in a wheelchair.

Barbara addressed Jack Thursday about the new house, “It doesn’t work for me. It’s small, and I don’t see you being able to do anything in that house. You can wheel in and wheel out, and that’s about it. I know you, and you’re not going to be happy with that.”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition released a report Thursday afternoon saying Rhode Islanders now need to earn double the minimum wage to afford a modest, two-bedroom unit.

With rising inflation on top of the rising rent, the Ringland’s are considering all options.

“I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I guess Barbara can go up and live with her mother, and they tell me I still have a right to get into the Veteran’s home.’ But here we are. That will make us 150 miles away from each other and that’s no way to end our days.”

The report also revealed that the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Rhode Island is nearly 18% higher than a year ago.

The Ringland’s are set to move out of their home by Sept. 15.

“I just feel like my whole life has blown up, and there is nothing I can do,” Barbara concluded.