Homeless in RI: “We’re in terrible, terrible shape”

WPRO’s Steve Klamkin has always asked the most pertinent questions at press conferences for the homeless, and he and Eileen Hayes, the CEO of Amos House, the group that is running the Cranston Street Armory, seem to have an affinity with one another on the topic of homelessness.

It was Steve’s question on Friday afternoon at the hastily called press conference by Stefan Pryor of RI Housing, that struck a chord and resulted in Hayes’ comment that (Rhode Island) “is in terrible, terrible shape”. Hayes went on to say that there has been a 54% increase in homelessness in the past few years in Rhode Island – and this is not unusual when compared to other states, particularly New England.

Cranston Street Armory

The Armory was set to close May 1st. All week media outlets have said they were asking about the status. NBC10 had an interview with a resident of the Armory who said not even he had heard what was happening.

As it has before, the closing date has been extended to around about May 15th. This is being done, per Stefan Pryor, “because people need a little more time”.

It was disclosed at the press conference that Mayor Smiley of Providence did not support the step to keep the Armory open, but that by the time of the press conference, according to Pryor, “we are on the same page”, but that as of Monday, there will be no new admissions to the Armory. Reports say over 40% of the city’s emergency calls are to the Armory. In addition a developer has proposed a large “destination” development for the Armory, which has now been put on hold. The development of the Armory is thought to be the keystone for the revitalization – some say gentrification – of the local community known as the West Broadway Neighborhood.

Hayes referred to the emergencies cases like that of a 69-year old woman who showed up at the Armory and did not know where she was, and “of course we took her in and our staff are working with her”.

The National Guard are involved in the Armory only, and will remain there, unless directed by the Governor elsewhere.

One local television reporter interviewed a homeless woman outside the Armory if she was worried, and she said, “I am worried. Everybody’s worried. We don’t know what the world we do. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Stefan Pryor statement:

The Department of Housing today announced details of the multi-step transition strategy that is underway in support of the closure of the Cranston Street Armory Warming Station. As of Monday the facility will stop taking in new clients and will end operations by May 15. To enable this transition, the Department of Housing also announced that it is providing grants to multiple providers across the State to support new shelter capacity and the extension of seasonal beds. These measures are the result of a multi-stage engagement process with service providers, elected leaders, and property owners over the past months in preparation for the closure of the Cranston Street Armory Warming Station.

Since opening this past December under the leadership of Amos House with the support of the Rhode Island National Guard, the Cranston Street Armory Warming Station has been an essential intervention for people experiencing homelessness. Recently the Armory had been serving as an overnight location for up to approximately 150 individuals each night.

The expanded shelter availability announced today that is anticipated to open over the course of this transition period includes:

• Additional capacity in Providence operated by Crossroads Rhode Island;
• Additional capacity supported by Community Care Alliance in northern Rhode Island;
• Expanded operations at Emmanuel House in Providence; and
• Additional capacity for medical respite in Providence provided by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, West Bay Community Action Program, and the Episcopal Diocese in Providence.

The expansion of shelter opportunities announced today has been pursued in parallel to efforts that have successfully extended seasonal shelters in Westerly, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Providence. The seasonal shelters and warming stations that are continuing include:

• OpenDoors RI’s warming center in Pawtucket;
• Catholic Charities at Emmanuel House in Providence;
• Community Care Alliance’s program in northern Rhode Island;
• Crossroads Rhode Island’s couples shelter on Hartford Avenue in Providence; and
• WARM’s expanded capacity in Westerly

This rapid expansion of shelter options unfolds alongside the Department of Housing’s emphasis on expanding permanent housing options and investing in rental housing that will provide long-term options for those currently relying on shelter. The Department of Housing also remains focused on eviction prevention, including the recently-announced $3.1 million expansion of legal services for families and individuals facing eviction.

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Homelessness by the numbers

As the Cranston Armory “ramps down” other programs around the state will “ramp up”. Facilities mentioned were Emmanuel House, CCA in northern RI, Crossroads on Hartford Ave, Open Doors in Pawtucket, and the Warm Center in Westerly. It was noted that all facilities are seeing increased need and Open Doors is at capacity right now.

At the same time the press conference was being held, it was announced that part of the Charlesgate Nursing Home, which has 2 buildings, will be closed – and could also be considered a new site for expansion of homeless housing and services.

The added capacity is expected to be need at least through May, possibly June, possibly longer.

Some new facilities will be added and include a West Bay coalition, the Episcopal Diocese, and the Coalition to End Homelessness.

Grants are being made available for existing ramp up and new programs. With approximately 150 to be exiting the Armory, how the capacity can be increased in such short order leaves questions. A new location at 1144 Westminster and a Motel 6, Warwick, expansion was mentioned.

As Hayes said, “we knew this was coming”.

Hayes summarized by saying we need an immediate short-term housing plan while long term solutions – and housing – are put together.

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Squeaky Wheel theory

A staunch supporter of the housing issue has been Steve Ahlquist of UpRiseRI, often capturing on short form videos what others have failed to explain in a way that truly depicts the desperate conditions of those who live on the streets. In a recent issue of UpRise, Ahlquist noted the difference for people who stay within the system, quietly go on the CES list, and wait – and those who cause, as the departed John Lewis used to say “good trouble” – or at least capture the attention of the media. Ahlquist wrote, “The different patterns regarding the treatment of unhoused people fortunate enough to have located themselves in a “high-profile” encampment as opposed to a “low-profile” encampment provide perverse incentives for people who are unhoused. Rather than wait patiently on systems like CES that promise housing that doesn’t exist and may never come, unhoused people are being incentivized to set up their encampments where they will be noticed so that government officials will be motivated to bend and break the rules to provide unpeople the services they so desperately need.””

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DaVinci Center Break-In, Anxiety and Fear

There are two active tent encampments – one diagonally in back of the DaVinci Center, on Charles Street in Providence. The other directly in back of Charles Place, senior housing for 200+ elderly/disabled individuals. The seniors have expressed fear and anxiety, as well as concerns for thoe homeless individuals.

On Saturday night last week, at 3:50am, the center was broken into, and the Providence Police Department apprehended the intruder and arrested him. It is likely he lived in one of the encampments. He had been released from the ACI the day before – for a previous B&E (Breaking and Entering) incident.

A source told us there are needles & syringes in back of the DaVinci building, and in the bushes along the building. There is a Middle School, Esek Hopkins, next to that building.

The West River where the encampment is was described as “an environmental mess”. All of this is closest to Charles Place, a “Section 8” housing for low-income seniors and disabled individuals.

Next Tuesday at 4:30pm the DaVinci Center is hosting along with Councilman Justin Roias a 4th Ward Public Safety Conversation with the Providence Police Department and the Community. For more information about the DaVinci Center, go to: https://www.davincicenter.org/

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Cranston – Ken Hopkins takes action as it comes up

The Mayor of Cranston took swift action when callers began to report three encampments in colorful tents. They were at the Edgewood Ballfield, off Reservoir Avenue, across from the DMV, and near the trolley barn on state property across from the Cranston Police Station. Hopkins said, “We’re clearing this out immediately.” Signs were posted on trees that people had until Friday of last week to exit the area. On Friday, clean up crews took care of the remnants of encampments, and no people were found in them. Officials said multiple dump trucks of trash were collected at the Reservoir Avenue site. Hopkins said he was prepared to bring in social workers, if needed, and said, “I don’t want the kids playing here to have this environment, and we are working with the state because it is a safety hazard because of the needles.

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Crossroads Apartment Complex

Crossroads is proposing to build an apartment complex providing housing for formerly homeless individuals with medical vulnerabilities.

The proposed project, located at 371 Pine St., will create 35 new apartments and will include co-located behavioral health and other health services available for residents. This will be the state’s first permanent supportive apartments created specifically for medically vulnerable homeless adults.

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Pawtucket supports Attorney General’s intervention on Memorial Hospital

The City of Pawtucket announced its support for Attorney General Peter Neronha’s efforts to intervene in a pending civil suit involving the former Memorial Hospital. Through the intervention motion, the Attorney General seeks to ensure terms of an original court order are followed by any current or future owners of the hospital property. 

The original order, in Rhode Island Superior Court, approved a plan to transfer the land of the former Memorial Hospital, with certain restrictions, to require the continued beneficial use of the land for the good of the City of Pawtucket and other Blackstone Valley communities.  Unfortunately, that redevelopment project did not take place and the property currently is in foreclosure.

“As Mayor of the City of Pawtucket, I expect proper re-development of the former Memorial Hospital and will do everything in my capacity to protect the residents in the surrounding neighborhood and their interests,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “With that being said, the administration with support from the city council has retained the law firm of Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux & O’Gara, LLC to represent the City of Pawtucket on the various issues that have recently developed regarding the Memorial Hospital property.”

The City of Pawtucket is closely monitoring this latest court action.  The goal of all parties should be to see that the conditions of that November 2020 Superior Court order are followed.  These conditions about the transfer and use of the property provide valuable protections to guarantee that the charitable intent of the original owners of the property is carried out.

Ensuring that the terms of the original order are followed is not only legally required but also serves to protect the interests of Pawtucket and surrounding communities while maintaining the charitable intent of the owners who donated the land and property of Memorial Hospital.

In a separate statement, Eileen Hayes of Amos House who had been running the family homeless shelter at Memorial said they are no longer interested in the building. Stefan Pryor’s office has said the same.

Michael Mota, who had been involved in some capacity in repairing the part of the building used for the shelter said he is no longer involved.

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This is a developing story