By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Thirty nine families remained out of their apartments Thursday after a second floor walkway collapsed on Tuesday, the city declaring the Broad Street complex “unlivable.”

Most of the families were put up on a temporary basis at a Providence hotel.

The Black Lives Matter RI PAC brought together local leaders and residents … and Mayor Ken Hopkins pledged … that especially with a storm coming, they won’t be left without housing.

“Believe me, these people will not be left outside during a storm, I can guarantee you that,” Hopkins said. He said he has been in touch with state officials looking for help to continue housing the residents, some expressed their frustration.

“It is sad, because we were paying our rent,” said second-floor resident Ruth Abreu who said she lived in the building for nearly ten years. She blamed the building’s management for ignoring residents’ complaints.

“We were complaining. They were not listening to us. This could have been avoided. It is total negligence on management.”

After the news conference, residents were accompanied, one by one, by Cranston police officers or firefighters back into their units to recover any medications that they may need, said Police Chief Michael Winquist.