Vacant Schools Repurposing of Vacant Schools for Affordable Housing The repurposing of vacant schools for affordable housing program was created to explore the feasibility of converting identified vacant schools into affordable housing units. This program was created under RIGL § 45-53-10. The Rhode Island Department of Education provides a list of identified vacant school properties to the Rhode Island Department of Housing for assessment. The Department of Housing consults with a taskforce of the following members, who assist in coordinating and conducting the assessment of these identified vacant schools. The taskforce is comprised of the following (as named in statute): The Department of Housing The Department of Health The Department of Environmental Management The Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation The Rhode Island fire marshal Local zoning official Local planning official Reports: 2023 Vacant Schools Annual Report 2023 RIDE Report