For most rental housing, Rhode Island law requires landlords to regularly inspect units and obtain “lead certificates” showing they’re safe from immediate lead hazards like peeling or pulverized paint. But this week, an investigation by The Public’s Radio revealed that landlords rarely face consequences for failing to obtain the certificates. We talk with the reporter behind the investigation, Nina Sparling. And Providence has a new Office of Housing and Human Services. We talk with director Emily Freedman about how the office will guide the city’s strategy around affordable housing and public health. Plus: Political Reporter Ian Donnis on the week in politics; Ukrainian pastor Boris Kroner reflects on the war in Ukraine, two years in; T.F. Green features local artists; and a few tips on what to do this week. 

Marisa and her two kids sit by her bedroom window on October 18th, 2023. Two months prior, she learned her two-year-old had elevated levels of lead in her blood. She is still waiting for the landlord to make repairs.
Marisa and her two kids sit by her bedroom window on October 18th, 2023. Two months prior, she learned her two-year-old had elevated levels of lead in her blood. She is still waiting for the landlord to make repairs. Credit: Jodi Hilton for The Public's Radio

Links: 

Guests:

  • Nina Sparling, The Public’s Radio Reporter
  • Emily Freedman, Director of the Providence Housing and Human Services Office
  • Ian Donnis, The Public’s Radio Political Reporter
  • Father Borislav Kroner, pastor at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket

The Weekly Catch is a production of The Public’s Radio, hosted this week by James Baumgartner, filling in for Luis Hernandez. Our editor is Mareva Lindo. Thanks to Maddie Mott for our podcast artwork. The executive producer of The Weekly Catch is Sally Eisele, and our CEO and General Manager is Torey Malatia.

Listen to The Weekly Catch every Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. You can also find it in your podcast feed of choice on Friday afternoons. Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or use this RSS feed for your podcatcher of choice.Got a question, comment, or suggestion? We’d love to hear from you. Email us: weeklycatch@thepublicsradio.org. Follow or reply to us at @thepublicsradio on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook.

Mareva joined The Public’s Radio in 2022 and oversees daily news production, writes our Daily Catch newsletter and edits two weekly productions, Artscape and The Weekly Catch. In 2023, Mareva received...

James produces and engineers Political Roundtable, The Weekly Catch and other special programming on The Public’s Radio. He also produces Artscape, the weekly arts & culture segment heard every Thursday....

Luis helms the morning lineup. He is a 20-year public radio veteran, having joined The Public's Radio in 2022. That journey has taken him from the land of Gators at the University of Florida to WGCU in...