WPRO News

The state on Friday extended its use of the Cranston Street armory in Providence as a homeless shelter to the middle of May, saying it would move homeless residents to a mix of current and new shelters in the coming weeks.

Governor Dan McKee first told WPRO News that plans to end use of the historic armory as a shelter at the end of April were being extended to mid-May, plans confirmed in a late afternoon news conference by his Housing Secretary, Stefan Pryor.

“We have been aiming for this ramp down, and we want to ensure that we would do so responsibly, providing alternatives within the existing system for individuals experiencing homelessness and providing for some new alternatives.

He said there would be expanded shelter availability in Providence at facilities operated by Crossroads Rhode Island, Emmanuel House, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, West Bay Community Action Program and the Episcopal Diocese in Providence, along with Community Care Alliance in northern Rhode Island.

Additional shelter opportunities have been lined up, he said, at seasonal shelters in Westerly, Pawtucket, Smithfield and Providence.

“It’s heartbreaking, honestly, it’s heartbreaking,” said Amos House Chief Executive Eileen Hayes of the need to extend the stay at the armory and to line up additional
shelters.

“We are feeling very sad and overwhelmed. As I’ve said repeatedly, the armory is not the place for folks to shelter, it’s not a shelter, it was really a place to keep people alive,” said Hayes, who’s agency operated the shelter inside the armory.

Pryor said the state would extend grant money in yet-to-be-determined amounts to the agencies that are taking in homeless people.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s office had pushed to move the shelter out of the armory, amid neighborhood objections and plans to rehabilitate and use the space for other uses. Pryor said his office had conducted extensive talks with the mayor’s office, adding, “we are on the same page.”