Providence City Councilors open Council Chamber for overnight warmth during Polar Vortex

Councilors Sanchez and Roias are calling for a Public Health State of Emergency

From a Providence City Council release and on-the-scene reporting:

As frigid temperatures sweep Rhode Island, Providence City Councilmembers Justin Roias and Miguel Sanchez will open the City Council Chamber tonight at 7 pm to host a community gathering space away from the cold. Councilors Sanchez and Roias have worked closely with local homelessness service providers to ensure trained volunteers will be on hand throughout the night, providing the space for as long as residents need it. Those who come by will be offered transportation and assistance accessing shelter beds, should they be available.

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I spoke to Councilmembers Roias and Sanchez an hour before the warming center opened.

Councilmember Justin Roias: I texted Miguel and said, “It’s really cold out.” The next logical step was, “What are we going to do about it?”

The backdrop of all this is that there wasn’t an adequate State response. We asked our City’s administration what their response was, and we felt that it was equally inadequate. They were kicking the can to the State, saying, “We need the State to declare a Public Health Emergency so that funds are unlocked and our agencies have the resources.”

I agree, but if the State’s not acting, does that mean we remain dormant and not help folks? That was frustrating. We tried to open a neighborhood center as a warming center. Unfortunately, there are regulations around that. They essentially said that it would not be feasible, given the timeline. They said that we had to get a special use permit, but they did leave the door open for future opportunities.

We realized there were limited options, so Councilor Sanchez said, "You know what? Let’s just bring it to the Council Chambers. That should send a strong message to our leadership in the City and State. We couldn’t find a building, but we control our public space.

Councilmember Miguel Sanchez: We’re hosting an overnight community gathering. We’re not opening up an emergency winter shelter here at City Hall. We’re using the space that we’re entitled to. It’s the People’s House.

Taking a step back, I outreach in that unhoused community. I’ve been doing this work for about nine months with a local nonprofit called Better Lives Rhode Island. Advocates have been pounding about this crisis for months. At this point, we understand that winter comes every year. One year, the Cranston Street Armory was an option. This year, there are very limited resources. I bring the experience of doing this for my day job - and also my experience of being on the City Council. It brings me a unique perspective.

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In the past year alone, 54 unhoused residents have lost their lives living outside. Councilors Sanchez and Roias are taking this action to help save lives.

“As a polar vortex grips Providence, many of our unhoused neighbors are being forced to sleep outside in dangerous temperatures,” said Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4). “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 Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “No one in our City should endure these deadly conditions because of a failure of government to protect its people. We call on the Mayor and Governor to immediately expand emergency shelter capacity and commit to long-term solutions to address homelessness in our community. This is a preventable crisis, and every moment of inaction puts lives at risk. We’re calling on Governor McKee to declare a Public Health Emergency by executive order immediately.”

Unhoused Rhode Islanders are in crisis. The recently released 2024 Point in Time Count, compiled by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, reports that Rhode Island has the second-highest rate of chronic homelessness in the nation.

Councilors Roias and Sanchez are demanding life-saving action from the state. They call on Governor Dan McKee to declare homelessness a state of emergency for public health and unlock essential resources for short—and long-term relief and care for unhoused individuals.

In lieu of state action, Providence City Councilors are committed to doing what they can to support the unhoused community through direct action and a compassionate, housing-first policy.