The office of Governor Dan McKee is announcing expanded shelter space. The property is at 662 Hartford Avenue in Providence which is owned, but not currently in use, by the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. McKee says the State Properties Committee approved the site to be used as a 24-7 shelter space including up to 40 beds, with priority given to unhoused couples.
“Expanding Rhode Island’s shelter capacity with the addition of the Hartford Avenue property will help us provide more Rhode Islanders who are experiencing homelessness with a warm, safe place,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I thank our cross agency team and Crossroads Rhode Island for their partnership as we continue to ensure increased shelter capacity and longer-term housing solutions.”
“While the only long-term solution to ending homelessness in Rhode Island is to build more permanent housing, it is critical that we continue to make immediate investments in low-barrier resources that make warm shelter and much-needed supportive services more accessible to more individuals in need,” said Rhode Island Department of Housing Secretary Josh Saal. “We thank our partners at Crossroads Rhode Island for their ongoing support and expertise, and we look forward to launching this site as soon as possible.”
Service will be provided by Crossroads Rhode Island. The current goal is to open the shelter by the end of January.
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