Transforming Communities

In 1975, when urban neighborhoods across the country were being blighted by fires and the exodus of residents to the suburbs, a pioneering group of residents in Providence formed SWAP.

Making A Difference

Barbara Fields

Barbara Fields

Barbara Fields dedicated 40 years to housing advocacy, believing it's foundational for strong communities. Her work with organizations like SWAP, LISC, HUD, and RIHousing reflects her enduring commitment to safe, affordable homes, a mission she continues in semi-retirement.

Barbara Sokoloff

Barbara Sokoloff

Barbara Sokoloff's expertise has been vital to SWAP, offering guidance on finance and development. From her city planning roots to her consulting firm, she champions affordable housing, highlighting the critical role of government support in facing future challenges.

Peter Borgemeister

Peter Borgemeister

Peter Borgemeister's journey with SWAP began with a personal quest for affordable housing, evolving into a dedicated commitment. He transformed historic buildings into homes, prioritizing community and detail. His architectural vision, rooted in SWAP's values, addresses both preservation and future housing needs.

Over the years, one house, then one street, then one neighborhood were reclaimed by an innovative homesteading program that brought a home buyer and a house in need of rehabilitation together. Today, SWAP continues to transform communities. Through historic restoration and new construction, SWAP creates affordable rental apartments and homes for sale. SWAP's current focus is on developing mixed-use residential and commercial spaces and creating newly vibrant commercial corridors.

Click on an image to see additional images
Click on an image to see additional images
Click on an image to see additional images
Click on an image to see additional images

SWAP has invested over $200 million dollars in Providence’s South Side, combining neighborhood revitalization, historic renovation, and adaptive reuse. The result: new inclusive affordable housing and holistic community revitalization. The revitalization respects the traditional fabric, scale, and history while encouraging business growth in areas that are walkable and have access to transit. The investment over the past 50 years has stabilized the region, promoted community pride, and proven to be a solid investment.

SWAP: Waging War Against Urban Blight

SWAP has had a positive impact on the community, increasing the tax base, decreasing building abandonment, stabilizing property values, and fostering a sense of community among homeowners. The program's success is attributed to its grassroots approach and the cooperation between community members and city officials.

Affordable Housing and Community Investment since 1975

Over 1,500 homes were saved from demolition in blighted neighborhoods throughout Providence as part of SWAP’s founding “homesteading” program.” SWAP matched blighted houses with urban pioneers who were required to participate in renovating the house that would become their home. SWAP maintains records of the addresses of all of the homes revitalized under this program. In 1993, the homesteading programs gave way to the Community Development Corporation (CDC) based model of affordable housing production.

Nearly
1,500

Homes sold — and still counting

Nearly
700

Apartments built or renovated — and still building and renovating

Nearly
25

Neighborhood commercial spaces in mixed-use buildings created – with strong demand

Nearly
$200,000,000

Invested with more to come!

The Next 50 Years

The core mission remains unchanged

There are no plans to change SWAP’s core mission. What has worked for 50 years can continue to work moving forward. Our focus on delivering high-quality, affordable housing will never go out of style.

Maplewoods development at dusk. The building is in the backgorund, the parking lot in the middle, and the entrance to the parking lot in the foreground.

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