Category: News

Thanks to one passionate Woonsocket graduate from the Class of 2024, many families in the community will have better access to food where the need is most dire.

Due to ongoing weather conditions Monday, the emergency shelter at Serenity Circle, 66 Social St., has been activated to accommodate those seeking shelter.

Eight nonprofits that regularly work with the homeless population in R.I. will receive $160,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation that will be used to help residents stay housed this winter.

The Dignity Bus for homeless citizens is days away from the start of operations. Councilor Valerie Gonzalez says this collaboration between the city, state, and community partners is a significant step toward changing the system.

City Council members passed legislation on Monday exempting the Dignity Bus from city zoning ordinances, one of the last few steps before the bus can open this winter.

What shelter beds? That's what advocates for the homeless, service providers and protesters are asking as cities and towns across the state raid homeless encampments and say that the people being displaced or arrested – whose belongings are often thrown away – have been offered shelter.

Representatives from various social service organizations in the city have had decades to make a dent in the homelessness problem here, says Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, but have proven ineffective.

Pieces are falling into place to bring the first ever “Dignity Bus” to Woonsocket. The custom-fabricated bus will have enough “sleeping pods” to keep 20 people off the street each night as a short-term shelter solution, said Community Care Alliance CEO, Ben Lessing.

Since December the issue of Rhode Island children who are living outdoors or in unacceptable housing conditions, such as in cars or abandoned property, has posed a question that has no clear answer.