Homeless in RI: Encampment clearing, US Pallet Shelters, Warming Centers/Shelters, Open Doors

Encampment Clearing in Providence

A long-standing, and steadily deteriorating encampment was razed to the ground yesterday as the RI Department of Transportation implemented orders to do so, clearing what might have been the largest still-standing encampment in the state, after first ridding the area of toxic or dangerous materials. As encampments have been “banned” by city after city, the homeless living in them have chosen to not gather in large groups, but in smaller, less visible groupings.

This encampment was on the Providence/Cranston line, under the Route 10 overpass. The numbers have decreased to approximately 5, with many thought to have relocated to warming centers or shelters given the very cold weather.

Providence said in a statement, “the City was first alerted to a potential encampment on Cranston Street/Niantic Avenue in November 2024 due to a report of an open flame. Outreach efforts to engage individuals who may need services or temporary housing continued through January, with the State Department of Housing involved. On January 10, the location was reported abandoned, and RIDOT was requested to remove refuse and repair the fence. A nearby encampment on the Cranston side of the property also received City support due to its close proximity to the Providence side of the overpass”.

NBC10’s story with photos on the encampment cleanup can be viewed, HERE.

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Providence publishes warming center location(s):

When extreme cold is forecasted, warming centers are open to the public for those who need to seek temporary shelter in Providence. Please contact warming centers directly for any changes to service. These facilities are not managed by the City of Providence. Warming centers will not provide food or beverage services and only service animals with certification are allowed.

LIBRARY BRANCHES (during day)

Residents may also seek shelter from the cold at the following Providence Community Library Branches. Please call the library to confirm if they are open in the event of a parking ban due to snow.

Mt. Pleasant Library

• 315 Academy Avenue
• 401-272-0106
• Monday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm
• Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Sunday: Closed

Olneyville Library

• 1 Olneyville Square
• 401-421-4084
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

Providence Public Library

• 150 Empire Street
• 401-455-8000
• Monday: 08:30 am-7:00 pm
• Tuesday: 08:30 am-7:00 pm
• Wednesday: 08:30 am-7:00 pm
• Thursday: 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
• Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
• Saturday: 08:30am-4:00pm
• Sunday: Closed

Rochambeau Library

• 708 Hope Street
• 401-272-3780
• Monday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:30am – 8:00 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm
• Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Sunday: Closed

Smith Hill Library

• 31 Candace Street
• 401-272-4140
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

South Providence Library

• 441 Prairie Avenue
• 401-467-2619
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

Wanskuck Library

• 233 Veazie Street
• 401-274-4145
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Thursday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

Washington Park Library

• 1316 Broad Street
• 401-781-3136
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Thursday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

Fox Point Library

• 90 Ives Street
• 401-331-0390
• Monday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: Closed

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Cranston Warming Centers

The Cranston library branches and Cranston Senior Center will be operating as warming shelters for anyone in need during their normal operating hours. Hours and locations for each library branch can be found at https://www.cranstonlibrary.org/locations/.

The Cranston Senior Center, at 1070 Cranston St., is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and is closed Saturday and Sunday.

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Pallet Shelter nonprofit reviews their 2024

Pallet Shelter is a nonprofit organization based on the West Coast. They sell pre-fabbed tiny shelters, expanding now into 2-person, showers, offices, and meeting space units, all over the country. Their goal is to provide quick shelter for those experiencing homelessness, from poverty and housing issues to natural disasters. They are the vendor where the state and House of Hope purchased the Echo Village units.

In their year in review, Pallet Shelter notes, “As we look back on 2024, we are both proud of our advancements in providing safe, secure spaces for unsheltered populations and motivated to keep pushing forward. Even as we passed 5,000 shelters built in North America, expanded our reach into Canada, and released a new innovative product line to offer faster deployment and comfort for residents, the human displacement crisis persists—encouraging the Pallet team to continue working tirelessly until everyone has a stable place to call home.”

From 11 different cities in California, to British Columbia, to Santa Fe New Mexico, to the victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, the review touts the ease and rapid-response of their units. Florida units were assembled and opened in less than 3 days.

Denver Pallet Village

Just in time for the New Year and part of Mayor Johnston’s plan to house 1,000 unhoused Denver residents by 2025, the opening of the city’s first micro-community also marked the first site comprising Pallet’s S2 Sleeper shelters.

“This is such a symbol of what we wanted to create,” said Cole Chandler, the mayor’s homeless czar. “It wasn’t just about getting people indoors, but it’s about bringing people back to life and helping people thrive. And you see that in this space.” Denver calls it their micro-community. It will have 54 units. The units went up in the city in 45 days, with 10 different organizations to complete construction. The location is in front of a hotel which is designated for affordable housing development. The “village” includes areas for treatment, employment and counseling, a care area for pets, a smoking area and larger community units, as well as a unit holding two bathrooms with a shower, and another unit with laundry machines, according to the Denver Post. Go HERE to read more from the Post.

To read the entire 2024 report – go HERE.

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More on Open Doors Shelter in Pawtucket

Homeless in RI: Open Doors, Pawtucket Warming Cooling Center expands, with improvements