Subscribe!
Local reporter has bag stolen while reporting on Providence “unhomed” encampment
“If anyone in Providence sees this bag anywhere on the street please let me know. It has my daughters initials so it’s very unique. My bag was stolen out of my car while doing a live report on Fuller and Wilson Street in Providence this evening. It has my entire life in it.” – Courtney Carter, reporter, WPRI-12
Carter had her bag taken while she was out of her car, covering the story of the encampment situation of individuals who are homeless who have set up tents, gardens, even a shower and port-a-potty on private land.
Carter:
“This person has changed all the contact numbers on my credit card profiles to his/hers and I’ve been calling my credit card companies all night trying not to get locked out of my own accounts.”
“So I was really upset about someone taking my belongings yesterday, but now I’ve moved from anger to “it is what it is” and I will never let that happen again. I filed a police report, will see if anything comes back but if not I’ll be fine. Onward and upward ! “
Carter came to WPRI from New York in 2019. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She notes in her history that with the CBS 24 hour station, “(she) started carrying her own camera through the streets of New York as a multimedia journalist and reporter for the 24-hour network.”
If you see Carter’s bag or find any items identified to her, please contact Courtney on Twitter @_CourtneyNews – or at WPRI.
_____
A homeless encampment off Wilson Street in Providence had many reporters working to tell their story, which had risen to the public’s attention as neighbors complained about noise and violent outbursts, and Providence Mayor Elorza issued a demand to vacate this private property, taken over by eminent domain by the city for development as an indoor farmers market and artist studios.
The encampment “residents” said they refuse to leave and would have to be removed by direct intervention. They indicated their intent to stay and make this “their home”.
Mayor Elorza went to visit the “residents”.
From Courtney’s Twitter feed: “Mayor Elorza stopped by a homeless encampment in Providence today on Wilson Street to hear their stories. They say the city gave them a notice to vacate within 48 hours but they have nowhere to go, as there is currently a huge waiting list for shelter residence”
After speaking to the community in the encampment for around 45 minutes, Mayor Elorza says they will not send in police today to break up the camp. He says they can stay (for now, did not give a timeline) and says they are working on short and long-term solutions. (Mayor Elorza now uses the phrase “unhomed” to refer to those at the encampment).
The RI Coalition for the Homeless has said that over 600 people are on a list for housing. When contacted for more details, they provided an off-the-record response about homelessness in RI, in general. We have asked for further details. They did say that there was no shelter, apartment, hotel, or other emergency housing available specifically for the Wilson Street encampment to go.
The House of Hope does not favor breaking up the camp as there is nowhere for people to be placed, and it brings about a crisis for the staff of agencies serving the homeless.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, Providence College sociology professor Eric Hirsch said, “The system is broken. The social service agencies don’t have the resources to help them.”
Courtney’s report:
Elorza should be UNMAYORED! He suck