Guide to Rhode Island Communities
Housing Choice Voucher Program
As an RIHousing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holder, you have the ability to choose a rental home in one of 20 Rhode Island communities. We have created this guide to provide you with an overview of living in any of those communities. With a Housing Choice Voucher, you are required to pay 30-40% of your income towards rent. RIHousing will pay the balance of the rental payment directly to your landlord.
South Kingstown
South Kingstown is the largest town in South (Washington) County. The village of Wakefield serves as a commercial center to many across the county. Though South Kingstown is a coastal community, it also has many amenities of any suburban community. It is also the location of University of Rhode Island’s main campus in Kingston as well as the Amtrak stop at West Kingston.
Major routes in the town are Route 138 (also known as Mooresfield Rd.), which travels east-west at the northern end of town; U.S. Route 1 (also known as Tower Hill Rd.), which travels north-south and hugs the lower southern coast; and Route 108 (also known as Kingstown Rd), which travels south from Route 138 into the villages of Peace Dale and Wakefield.
Living in South Kingstown:
Given its overall size and villages, there is a fair amount of diverse housing choices across the town, including some multi-family developments, two-family homes, and mobile home parks. Especially within the villages, there are also a number of modest single family homes that may offer rental opportunities.
To use your voucher here, your rent cannot exceed the Fair Market Rate.
Click here to view the latest rates.
What is the Fair Market Rate?
FMRs regularly published by HUD, represent the cost to rent a moderately-priced dwelling unit in the local housing market. The housing voucher tenant must pay 30 percent of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, and if the unit rent is greater than the payment standard, the tenant is required to pay the additional amount.
GETTING AROUND
RIPTA:
- Route 62/66 / URI/Galilee (service from Galilee to Providence)
- Route 65X / Wakefield Park-n-Ride (service from Wakefield to Providence)
- Route 203 / URI/Narragansett/South Kingstown Flex Service
Driving times by car (average):
- Providence (33 miles)—42 minutes
- Warwick (25 miles)—39 minutes
- Newport (18 miles)—30 minutes
DAILY NEEDS + COMMUNITY CENTERS
|
Town Hall |
180 High St. |
|
Library |
Peace Dale Library |
|
Post Office |
551 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield |
|
Police Department |
1790 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield |
|
163 Rose Hill Rd. |
COMMUNITY CENTERS
|
Jonnycake Center for Hope |
1231 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale |
|
Senior Center |
25 St. Dominic Rd., Wakefield |
|
Tri-County Community Action Agency – Southern Region |
1935 Kingstown Road, Wakefield |
|
YMCA – South County |
165 Broad Rock Rd. |
|
DHS & SNAP Offices |
DHS: 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) SNAP: 1-401-782-4300 4808 Tower Hill Rd. Wakefield, RI 02879 |
FOOD + SHOPPING
FOOD
|
Belmont Market |
600 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield |
|
Shaw’s |
160 Old Tower Rd., Wakefield |
|
Jonnycake Center Food Pantry |
1183B Kingstown Rd. |
SHOPPING
|
Nearest Walmart Supercenter |
1031 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown |
EDUCATION
DAYCARES, PRESCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
|
Infant Care Programs |
Toddler Care Programs |
Preschool Programs |
After School Care Programs |
|
7 |
9 |
14 |
4 |
For a full list of care providers, visit www.brightstars.org.
The following providers accept the RI Child Care Assistance Program subsidy:
- Headstart Programs (available through Tri-County CAP)
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
District Report Card from RI Department of Education
| RIDE Rating | ||
|
Peace Dale Elementary School |
109 Kersey Road |
★★★★☆ |
|
Matunuck School |
380 Matunuck Beach Road |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Wakefield School |
101 High Street |
★★★☆☆ |
|
West Kingston Elementary School |
3119 Ministerial Road |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Broad Rock Middle School |
351 Broad Rock Road |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Curtis Corner Middle School |
301 Curtis Corner Road |
★★★☆☆ |
|
South Kingstown High School |
215 Columbia Street |
★★★☆☆ |
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
|
Gr. PK-8 |
|
|
Gr. 9-12 |
|
|
Gr. PK-8 |
BANKS
|
BankRI |
290 Main St. |
|
Bank of America |
4 Old Tower Rd., Wakefield |
|
Savings Institute Bank & Trust |
121 Old Tower Rd., Wakefield |
|
Citizens Bank |
51 Main St., Wakefield |
|
Washington Trust |
730 Kingstown Rd. |
|
Santander |
20A Main St., Wakefield |
MEDICAL SERVICES
|
Thundermist Health Center – South County |
1 River St. |
|
CVS Minute Clinic |
11 Main St., Wakefield |
|
Nearest hospital: South County Hospital |
100 Kenyon Ave.
|
PLACES OF WORSHIP
| Protestant Church | 12 |
| Catholic + Episcopal Church | 7 |
| Jewish Synagogue | (1) Narragansett |
| Muslim Mosque | 1 |
RECREATION
South Kingstown Parks and Recreation Department
OUTDOOR SPACES
|
Noyes Farm |
|
Great Swamp Management Area |
|
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge |
|
Succotash Marsh State Management Area |
|
West Kingston Park |
|
William Brousseau Park |
| East Matunuck State Beach |
| Matunuck Beach |
ARTS + OTHER PROGRAMS
|
Courthouse Center for the Arts |
|
South County Art Association |
|
Contemporary Theatre Company |
