R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-30-9: Determination of housing shortage by council.

A housing authority may function upon a finding or determination by the governing body (which finding or determination is in lieu of any finding or determination required by the Housing Authorities Law, chapters 25 — 27 of this title, and is conclusive in any suit, action, or proceeding) that there exists or impends in the locality an acute shortage of safe and sanitary dwellings available to persons engaged in national defense activities.