Overnight Drop-in Shelters and Emergency Warming Centers, statewide, announced

Late Saturday afternoon, a press release from the Governor listed what the state is doing in preparation for the frigid winter conditions coming in this week, including some snow set to start on Sunday.

Perhaps responding to our request for a coordinated list of overnight shelters that would be available for the homeless, the RI EMA now lists this information on their site. No CES referral is needed to utilize these hubs and shelters.

List of Emergency Winter Hubs – January 2025

Emergency Winter Hubs

• West Warwick – West Warwick Civic Center, 100 Factory St.
  • Open: Monday, January 20, 4:30 PM – Thursday, January 23, 10 AM.  

• Westerly – WARM Center, 56 Spruce St.
  • Open: 24 hours for the winter months.

• Woonsocket – 356 Clinton Street
  • Open: Monday, January 20, 5 PM. 

 The following overnight drop-in shelters are available 24/7. 

• Pawtucket – OpenDoors, 1139 Main St. 
• Providence – Crossroads: 162 Broad St. 
• Providence – Emmanuel House, 239 Public St. (run by Diocese of Providence)
• South Kingstown – Welcome House of South County, 8 North Rd, Peace Dale, RI

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City of Cranston

Cranston Senior Center opened as a warming center from 8am to 4pm

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City of Providence

DaVinci Center, 470 Charles Street, Providence – open Monday and Tuesday, January 20 and 21, 7pm to 7am. There is a need for shelter volunteers. This is a call for the better angels of Rhode Island. Sign up – select a 4-hour shift. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating supplies can fill out this form, per the city.

Providence Rescue Mission – 627 Cranston Street – (401-274-8861) 

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City of East Providence:

Robert E. Rock Senior Center, 610 Waterman Ave., East Providence – open 7pm to 7am

The City of East Providence is partnering with the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, East Bay Community Action Program and Crossroads Rhode Island to open an overnight warming shelter, as temperatures continue to plummet. Members of the East Providence police and East Providence Emergency Management Agency will be present at the shelter. Overnight shelter space is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those planning on utilizing the overnight shelter must sign in and be present between the hours of 7 PM-8:30 PM.

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Use of Providence Libraries as Warming Shelters – (not open overnight – and closed on Monday)

Libraries are often the best resource to come in out of the cold, read, do research, and some libraries will have social service staff to help out with information. Every community keeps their own schedule, but here info for Providence. If you are heading there and the weather is particularly bad, you should call to confirm they are open, especially in the event of a parking ban due to snow.

Please note that Monday, January 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and libraries will be closed.

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

It is not clear how this information is getting out to the homeless living on the street – in Providence, Fire Dept. EMTs have been going to encampments to let people know.

This is a developing story – if you know of any other resources, let us know and we will confirm and add them.