R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-6
It is declared to be the policy of this state to protect and promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the people of the state, and particularly of the people of the communities of the state in which blighted and substandard areas exist, by the elimination and prevention of these areas through the utilization of all means appropriate for that purpose, thereby encouraging the provision of healthful homes, a decent living environment, and adequate places for employment of the people of this state and its communities in these areas through redevelopment. Moreover, it is the policy of this state to empower a redevelopment agency in a community of this state to acquire, by purchase or condemnation, properties in violation of the locality's or city's minimum housing code and transfer ownership of those properties to a limited equity housing cooperative incorporated in this state for the provision of adequate housing for low and/or moderate income residents. To this end it is declared that the powers conferred by chapters 31 - 33 of this title are necessary to effectuate the purposes of these chapters and are for public uses and purposes for which the power of eminent domain may be exercised, tax moneys and other public funds expended, and public credit pledged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-6