Warwick’s NYLO closes to public as Crossroads RI secures hotel as an emergency shelter

NYLO, a boutique hotel on Greenwich Avenue in Warwick, with 163 rooms is now closed to the public and under agreement to Crossroads RI for emergency hotel shelter use for those experiencing homelessness.

NYLO is across the street from the Warwick Mall, and next to Pontiac Mills. Hotel staff confirm it is fully booked. Crossroads confirmed the use of the hotel and that it had negotiated with the hotel from November through March of 2022 for all their rooms. (the facility says the lease runs through May of 2022).

From CrossroadsRI

When asked for details about the cost of the project, Evan Englund, Managing Director of Nail Communications, working as a communications consultant for Crossroads RI responded to a request sent to Laura Calenda, Chief Marketing and Philanthropy Officer, and provided a quote “from Karen Santilli, Crossroads RI President and CEO: It is not certain, as the state is reimbursing costs rather than providing upfront funding. That said, we anticipate it will cost approximately $3 million for the five months Crossroads is scheduled to run the program”.

Earlier, Englund had provided this statement from Santilli: “In response to the increased number of people sleeping outside, the State recently asked Crossroads Rhode Island, the leading provider of housing and services to the homeless in the state, to assume management of a program designed to provide them with a safe place to stay through the cold winter months. Under the terms of the contract, which started on November 1, 2021 and runs through the end of March, FEMA dollars will be used to pay for up to 150 hotel rooms at a hotel in Warwick for people who are experiencing homelessness.

Consistent with its Housing First philosophy, Crossroads will focus on helping the hotel guests secure stable and affordable housing during their stay. In fact, we have already helped several people move out of the hotel and into permanent, affordable housing since taking over the program.” 

From NYLO:

When reached by phone Sunday evening, NYLO’s night manager confirmed the hotel was closed to the public and “rented to the state” through May of 2022, and that all rooms were occupied. She did not know how residents were getting to and from the hotel. She said the restaurant was closed and no events were planned.

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Last month, on November 3rd, Governor Dan McKee announced $5 million in funding to provide emergency shelter capacity to Rhode Island’s homeless service providers. The funding was for 275 emergency shelter beds as Rhode Island approached the winter months. The agencies chosen to operate the Winter Shelter program and “funded through these funds” are: the Community Care Alliance • Crossroads RI • Domestic Violence Resource Center • Emmanuel House • Harvest Community Church • Newport County Mental Health • and WARM.

268 people in Rhode Island were estimated at that time to be living “unsheltered” with approximately 1,064 people on a shelter waiting list.

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Office of Housing and Community Development

Pheamo Witcher, Housing Resources Coordinator at the RI Office of Housing and Community Development confirmed the project and said she believed the NYLO was the only full lease of a hotel in the program. When asked about costs, she referred back to Crossroads.

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Before NYLO, Sockanosset Crossroad overflow hospital site looked into

A source told RINewsToday that prior to securing NYLO, there was an ask made to the Carpionato Corporation’s “old Citizens Bank” building on Sockanosset Crossroad which is currently being leased by the State of Rhode Island (under federal money) as first a testing site, then an overflow hospital, and now a vaccination site, to use the facility to house the homeless on an emergency winter basis. The proposal was not accepted.

100 Sockanosset LLC has been paid approximately $335,208 per month since April of 2020, for a total of approximately $6,705,000.

About NYLO:

NYLO is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, though their corporate office says they are independently owned and operated. Contact with local owners by Hilton on behalf of our request for more detailed information has not been returned. The NYLO group have 5 U.S. locations, with 1 in Rhode Island that was opened in 2008, with urban styled guestrooms combining old buildings with modern design. They have 162 guest rooms/suites and 3 meeting rooms and a restaurant. Rooms range from 575 sq. ft. Pawtuxet River view Suites with separate living area, signature décor, oversized windows, 10 foot ceilings, and a 60-inch TV to 300 sq. ft. industrial chic king-bed rooms with 10 foot ceilings, and a 50-inch TV. Their website says they have a full fitness center and the Loft Restaurant and Bar serves dinner Tuesday to Saturday evenings and breakfast each morning (the hotel says the restaurant and bar area is closed).

This is a developing story.

As we go to press, specific questions remain unanswered such as what are the conditions for people to stay at NYLO, is there a time limit, how many people have been placed in more permanent housing who have stayed there, what other hotels have multiple rooms being used or planned for, what is the breakdown of individuals vs. families, children, etc. staying at hotels, are there rooms in downtown Providence hotels, what is the estimated total cost of this hotel room method through spring of 2022, what notification was given to the Warwick community and neighboring businesses and homes, etc.

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Senator Cynthia Mendes who has been staging a sleep-in outside in front of the RI State House, and is running for Lt. Governor with Gubernatorial candidate, Matt Brown, has been speaking out on behalf of the unhoused. Prior to Monday’s announcement of the release of “Rhode Island Rebounds” funding, Mendes said, when asked specifically what she was asking Gov. McKee to do: “There are ways to do this if they were prepared, if there was a sense of urgency. It would take 1% of Rhode Island’s $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan funds “to put all of the folks who are un-housed in hotels this winter,” she said. “That is just one example of many.” 

During the Monday press event, Sen. Mendes left the room suddenly. When reached after the meeting by various members of the media, she said to WPRO’s Steve Klamkin (posted on Twitter): “Way too little, way too late…by the time legislators vote and start spending the money, it will be next year and people will be freezing.”

RINewsToday has asked Mendes what specifics need to happen for her to end the sleep-out. She did not respond except to say that we should come down to the State House at night to talk to her.