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Homeless in RI: We remember Janice Luongo, founder of Street Sights and RINewsToday writer

May 17, 2026/Nancy Thomas

by Nancy Thomas, publisher and founder, RINewsToday

Janice Luongo, a staunch advocate of the homeless community, and a regular writer for RINewsToday died on May 12th, of a sudden illness. The last time we spoke Janice was leaving to attend to the death of a family member. She sounded as strong and committee to the mission of serving others as she did on the first day we spoke – years ago.

That first conversation had to do with her publication called Street Sights. Begun in 2007, Street Sights was original a one sheet of resource information for the homeless community. It grew. It grew to 8, 10, sometimes 12 pages. Written for – and by – those leaving in fear of homelessness, those living in encampments, and those living in streets, shelters, and surfing on people’s couches. It also had contributors who had gotten out of the cycle of poverty and housing need. There are poets and artists. There were messages of faith and encouragement.

What began as a sheet of paper, copied at the local store – and surely contributed by them, at Janice’s insistence – became a project printed at Crossroads printing facility. After it was printed, it was Janice’s task to distribute it – usually on the street – streets she had walked years before. She knew where people were and how to get this information to them.

Relatively speaking, we met late in Janice’s career of serving those experiencing street life. Janice knew that she could not afford in money, time or physical walking, to continue Street Sights the way it was. Could I print it – and she could tell people how to find it on their phones, or in the library, or on tablets that some had. She would still print a few to hand out and to post on social media. But, by that time RINewsToday was well on its was to the other-800 “Homeless in RI” features.

We said ”yes’. And sure as another month would go by, Janice’s email would bring us another issue and we would feature it.

Occasionally, Janice wrote outside of Street Sights, for us, directly. In the 11 years RINewsToday has published, one article still holds “the record”, if you will, for number of reads – nearly 35,000 – it was the story of Rico – a homeless man who died on a park bench, the night of a Point in Time count, while workers counted him but did not disturb him, as were the rules. No one thought he might be dead. No one checked. It was winter.

Rico’s story was picked up by other Rhode Island media, and it made it to the RI State House – it shook up the homeless advocacy groups – quite a bit – but only for awhile.

We understand that Janice had a phrase she used, one that she would ask, when someone said a solution was coming or maybe next year, or a bill was in the legislature, or maybe there would be more money for emergency shelters – she would ask, “What About Tonight?”

As we go to print with this issue of Homeless in RI, we ask the question ‘what about tonight?’ – we’ll keep asking it – and we will forever be grateful for changes that came about by the woman who gave voice to the homeless – we will remember Janice.

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We share what others have written to us – and her obituary, and services, below:

Rest in Peace, Janice Luongo – Street Sights

“None of us will ever forget her voice. One that was bold and never backed down from calling out the injustices that happen all around us. What was equally as powerful was her gift to be someone who listened in times of need for so many. We will miss her presence, but we will carry on her spirit, continuing to work for ways to create the change we want to see. We will certainly keep everyone posted on services. Blessings on Janice and her life lived in service to others.” – Kevin Simon, Mathewson Street UMC

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From Bernie Beaudreau, advocate:

“For the short time I knew her, I was inspired and supported by Janice. I will truly miss her as will the community of volunteers working for the homeless. Her dedication and determination will be the example I hope to emulate.

I have only known her for the past year, when she hosted weekly “check ins” zoom calls with a small group of advocates on Thursday afternoons. Janice was very supportive of my own outreach and story telling work this past winter. Janice would remind us constantly that we need to do more to educate policy makers, the Governor, and the general public about the tragic stories of the homeless and the overall crisis. She pursued Jim Hummel for months to get his attention, again, to the homelessness crisis. As you know, Jim had ProJo publish a three-part series earlier this year on homelessness and featured Janice in his first installment.

Janice dedicated the December 2025 issue of Street Sites to include commentary and reports from a number of us advocates, my report included. See Early Morning Conversations with Sheltered Homeless Guests of Harrington Hall and Emmanuel House in the attached PDF.

Janice Luongo was a great supporter of other’s advocacy efforts. She thanked me many times for my reports from shelters and encampments. On November 7th Janice wrote to me:

“Bernie,

Your stories jump at me. The harsh realities of life are so real. The suffering our friends go through is unbearable….

Can you ask everyone to post on their social media to educate the public of what our sisters and brothers are facing every day.”

Janice

Here is an excerpt about Janice’s work from The Hummel Report, March 11 Report in the Providence Journal:

“Janice Luongo publishes a newspaper for homeless people called “Street Sights.” Luongo, like Chiellini, has lived experience, growing up in a dysfunctional household on Federal Hill.

For several years she was homeless and taking drugs until the Sisters of Mercy took her in. It was different in 1970s, she said: Luongo never lived in a tent, instead sleeping in a car or someone’s basement.

Luongo also turned her life around and has lived on Smith Hill for the past 50 years. She took over editing Street Sights three years ago, after being involved for a couple of years before that.

Before running into funding challenges, she used to print 1000 copies, which were distributed by outreach workers throughout the state. In addition to stories of people experiencing homelessness and those trying to help them, every issue carries a listing of available resources. She has recently moved to a digital-only publication.

“We’re not going to get anywhere unless the government shifts from managing the crisis to solving its root causes, Luongo said. “To me, the answer to that is: housing first.”

No one would disagree with that approach, but the state of Rhode Island has lagged for decades producing new housing, let alone affordable units for those on the street. Luongo said it’s easy for lawmakers to look the other way because those on the street have no one to lobby for them. “You’re a senator, you’re a rep, what are you doing?” she asked.

Luongo added: “I believe this is solvable, but we don’t have the right people around the table. We don’t have people who care about and want to make this system work. You have a governor who last summer said he didn’t believe the numbers the (Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness) gave him,” about the number of people without housing.

Luongo said there are many underlying causes that lead to someone being out of the street: substance abuse, mental health or maybe childhood trauma. And even when pop-up shelters open, as they did during the bitterly cold periods in January and February, there are some who still won’t go inside.

Many chose to ride it out in their tents because they either didn’t want to – or couldn’t – be around others in a congregate setting; others were feeding a drug addiction or were concerned they’d be robbed if they left.

“They lump everything together,” she said. “You have to separate them out because the needs are different for each individually. It’s not just a house. You might be able to find housing, but you wouldn’t know what to do because you don’t have the skills to get their life back together.”

Those living in tents throughout Rhode Island faced the added challenge of a harsh winter, with an extended cold stretch and two heavy snowfalls, including last month’s record-breaking blizzard.”

And, See also: April 9 Hummel Resport

Janice Luongo was a great supporter of other’s advocacy efforts. She thanked me many times for my reports from shelters and encampments. On November 7th Janice wrote to me:

Bernie,

Your stories jump at me. The harsh realities of life are so real. The suffering our friends go through is unbearable….

Can you ask everyone to post on their social media to educate the public of what our sisters and brothers are facing every day. – Janice

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From Better Lives RI

“On May 12, 2026 , Janice Luongo died unexpectedly after a short illness. Providence has lost a valued member of our community. Janice devoted much of her life to advocacy, community-building, and direct outreach to people in need throughout Providence and beyond. She served on numerous neighborhood and community committees in Smith Hill and across the city, always working to bring people together around issues of justice, dignity, housing, and community care.

Janice was deeply committed to supporting Rhode Island’s unhoused community. Through her work with Street Sights — Rhode Island’s only magazine by and for the homeless — and through countless grassroots efforts, she helped amplify voices too often unheard while building networks of compassion and action.

She regularly visited encampments bringing coats, toiletries, meals, and other essential supplies directly to those living outside. During the holidays, she organized and distributed meals and care items to encampments and panhandlers throughout the city, believing deeply that every person deserved dignity, kindness, and to be seen.

Janice believed in collaboration, mutual aid, and community connection. She was known for her fierce advocacy, honesty, humor, warmth, and ability to make people feel heard and valued. Whether working quietly behind the scenes or helping organize broader community efforts, she brought people together and inspired others to become involved.

Those who knew Janice understood that her compassion was not performative — it was simply who she was.”

– Paula Hudson, Executive Director, Better Lives RI

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From AARP-RI – an interview 13 years ago:

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From the Rhode Island Catholic, March 27, 2014 – shared by Bianca Policastro:

Ministering to the poor from experience – Mary House Ministries at St. Patrick Church an oasis for those in need

JESSICA A. BOTELHO, Staff Reporter

Surrounded by statues of the Blessed Mother, as well as a framed photo of Mother Teresa, volunteers at Mary House Ministries sort items in the facility’s food pantry.

Executive Director Janice Luongo estimates the ministry, which is sponsored by St. Patrick Parish on Smith Hill, serves approximately 200 people per month, plus 850 more through a weekly meal kitchen. Those numbers are higher during certain times of the year, as they host dinners on holidays, too.

Luongo, however, said that Mary House Ministries represents much more than feeding the local poor and homeless. The establishment also offers mentoring, health assistance, and spiritual guidance to a wide range of people, including families in need, the unemployed, those who have substance abuse problems and veterans.

“My goal is to bring people to Christ and have them understand that there’s a better way if they want it,” she said. “It’s a choice; we don’t force it on anyone.”

Luongo is speaking from experience. As a teen, she left home for a life on the streets of Federal Hill. She was homeless for nearly four years during the 1960s, suffering from a drug addiction. For several months, a few nuns from the Sisters of Mercy brought her food, and encouraged her to join them at a prayer meeting. But Luongo continuously refused.

Still, the sisters revisited her again and again, always bringing food, as well as kindness and compassion.

“It didn’t matter how I treated them; they never wavered,” said Luongo. “They loved me and wanted to help. One night, it was raining really hard. I had hepatitis from shooting needles, and they took me to this little apartment.”

There, they nursed her back to health. While she left a few times, she returned, craving their care.

“I didn’t trust anybody,” she said. “I had to take my time and think, ‘are these people for real?’ But I saw a uniqueness and charism in them that I never saw before.”

Quitting drugs wasn’t easy. Luongo credits the “grace of God” for getting – and staying – clean.

“I went cold turkey,” she said. “I was sick for a while, but they took care of me. They prayed over me all the time. Back then, people didn’t know anything about substance abuse; they just knew that they wanted to follow the Lord and that God said to help people.”

By the early 1970s, Luongo got her own place with a friend. She started a street ministry, and opened a recreational center for troubled teens. She also became a parishioner at St. Patrick Church in Providence.

In 1972, the Sisters of Mercy founded Mary House Ministries. It’s been housed at a few locations in Providence, but has been operating at its current location, at 244 Smith St., for five years. Parishes throughout the diocese, as well as local residents, donate food and funds to stock the food pantry and provide dinners at the meal kitchen.

“More often than not, I see myself in many of the people I serve,” Luongo said.

She recently shared her story with students from five local Catholic high schools, including Bishop Hendricken, St. Mary Academy-Bay View, LaSalle Academy, The Prout School and St. Raphael Academy. After her presentation last week, more than 200 students and teachers attended Mass and watched a movie about the impacts of poverty and homelessness on children and teens before assembling personal care packets that were donated to Breadlines, a mission that distributes food and items to people in need every Friday evening at Cathedral Square in Providence. They also wrote letters to legislators, advocating for affordable housing and bills aimed at preventing homelessness.

Around midnight, they gathered outside Saint Raphael Academy’s Alumni Hall for the sixth annual “Homeless Sleep Out,” spending the night in sleeping bags to raise awareness about homelessness.

Bay View seniors, Emma Alfred, 17, and Shannon Coffey, 18, as well as Hendricken juniors Christian Leonard, 17, and Mike Webb, 17, said even though it was the first night of spring, coupled with the fact that they were snuggled in sleeping bags and wearing multiple layers of clothing, they felt the chill.

“It was so cold that it was hard to breathe,” said Alfred, with Coffey adding, “I woke up a couple of times in the night and could not feel my feet.”

Leonard and Webb agreed. They said it was “unbearably cold” and windy.

“It was freezing for us, so I can’t imagine what it’s like for the homeless,” said Leonard, while Webb said, “it showed me how to empathize with homeless people, rather than sympathize because it gives you a first-hand look at what really goes on.”

Students also praised Luongo for sharing her experience with them. They admire not only her will to succeed, but her honesty, as well.

“She owned up to her mistakes, did something about it, and changed it,” Alfred said, with Coffey adding, “she was our age when she was homeless, and to see how she turned her life around was pretty inspiring.”

For Luongo, helping others is a way of life. As she serves food each week at Mary House Ministries, guests say she’s one of a kind. While Steve Natalizia enjoys the fact that she leads them in prayer before every meal, Tommy Hodgetts and Deanna Lawrence appreciate her kindness and sensitivity. They also praised other volunteers for their efforts.

“They are good to us,” Lawrence said.

Mary House meal kitchen is open every Monday from 3:30 p.m. to

5 p.m. The food pantry is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as well as by appointment on Saturdays. Learn more by visiting www.maryhouseri.org.

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From Eric Hirsch, Providence College, Homeless Advocate:

“It’s a big loss for her friends and for everyone trying to end homelessness.”

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Janice Luongo – JULY 8, 1950 – MAY 12, 2026

Obituary from Maceroni Funeral Home:

Janice Luongo, 75, passed away after a sudden illness, on May 12, 2026. At the center of Janice’s life was her beloved wife and partner of 35 years, Annmarie (“Annie”) Simoli, with whom she built a life filled with profound love, laughter, creativity, and resilience.

She also leaves behind her beloved aunts and uncle , Rita and Al Poli and Anne Caldarella; and her brother Thomas; cousins; extended family; dear friends; colleagues; and the many communities she touched through her advocacy and work.

There was rarely any mystery about where Janice stood. When she had something to say — whether about injustice, community, love, politics, or life itself — she said it plainly, honestly, and often “memorably.”

Janice believed deeply in community and coalition-building from her early days at Smith Hill Center to her most recent collaboration with Better Lives RI, and as the Editor in chief of Street Sights, Rhode Island’s only homeless magazine. Through her advocacy work, and through the countless relationships she nurtured, she brought people together and helped build networks of care, dignity, and action.

Janice had what her grandmother lovingly called “a heart of gold.” Those who knew her understood that her generosity was never performative — it was simply who she was.

She loved deeply, spoke honestly, and remained fiercely devoted to the people and causes she cared about. Her absence leaves an immeasurable space in the lives of those who loved her and in the communities she helped strengthen throughout her life.

A memorial gathering celebrating Janice’s life will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St., North Providence.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janice’s memory may be made to Better Lives Rhode Island.

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This is the story we at RINewsToday were so proud of – written by and with Janice:

Homeless in RI: Rico froze to death on North Main St. in Providence – Janice Luongo, Street Sights

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