2 City Council Members Open Prov. City Hall as Warming Center, Smiley Blasts Move

2 City Council Members Open Prov. City Hall as Warming Center, Smiley Blasts Move

Providence City Councilors Justin Roias and Miguel Sanchez claim in a press release that they “will open the City Council Chamber tonight at 7 pm to host a community gathering space away from the cold.”

It is unclear if Council President Rachel Miller is a part of the effort.

The Council members claim the response from Mayor Brett Smiley and Governor Dan McKee does not meet the demand for shelter.

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Roias said, "With only two 24/7 emergency shelters open, the response from the mayor and governor has been woefully inadequate. This failure has left us no choice but to take the unprecedented step of opening the City Council chambers as a community gathering space where folks are able to stay warm during freezing temperatures." 

"As local elected leaders, we cannot allow our neighbors to freeze to death on our streets," said Sanchez (Ward 6). "No one in our city should endure these deadly conditions because of a failure of government to protect its people.”

 

Smiley Criticizes the Move

“I oppose tonight’s action by the City Council. City Hall does not have the resources, expertise or proper facilities to serve as an emergency shelter. The City is supporting multiple emergency warming shelters across Providence with available beds that are professionally staffed with the resources and tools our unhoused population needs,” said Smiley.

“Opening City Hall as a shelter disrespects the hard work of our community partners who have the expertise to adequately provide support for our community and this action distracts from the serious solutions the City and our partners have been leading to support our unhoused populations,” added Smiley.

The City has multiple warming centers, including three that provide shelter overnight.