The DaVinci Center to once more open as a warming center as Providence prepares for extreme cold

The temporary warming center will be located at the DaVinci Center, 470 Charles Street, and will be open Monday, January 20, and Tuesday, January 21, from 7 pm to 7 am.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and the Providence City Council announced today that in response to the extreme cold weather expected next week, the City will collaborate with community partners Better Lives RI and the DaVinci Center to open an overnight warming center for Providence’s unhoused population.

The City is working closely with providers to ensure everyone who needs assistance has access to a warm, safe place to stay during the extreme weather overnight and during the day.

• The temporary warming center will be located at the DaVinci Center, 470 Charles Street, and will be open Monday, January 20, and Tuesday, January 21, from 7 pm to 7 am.

• The City is seeking volunteers to assist at the DaVinci Center. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating supplies can fill out this form.

• It’s good to see Mayor Smiley on board with this life-saving proposal.

• The press release from the City missed that all the library branches that might normally serve as warming centers during the day will be closed for the MLK Holiday. Also, due to the holiday, RIPTA buses will run on a reduced service schedule, meaning longer wait times and longer walks in the cold.

• Telling a person experiencing homelessness that their pets are not welcome is essentially telling them to choose between their lif and the life of a loved one. It’s a policy that leads to impossible to make decisions.

SEE ALSO:

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

• Over 100 people turn out in support of the Providence City Council’s stand against homelessness

• Jackie Goldman: Praise for the unnamed volunteers who made the Providence emergency shelter happen

PROVIDENCE WARMING CENTER LOCATIONS:

When extreme cold is forecasted, warming centers are open to the public for those seeking temporary shelter in Providence. Please contact warming centers directly for any changes to service. The City of Providence does not manage these facilities. Warming centers will not provide food or beverage services; only certified service animals are allowed.

• Crossroads RI; 160 Broad Street; 401-521-2255

• Providence Rescue Mission (Currently open 24/7, in “Code Blue” status); 627 Cranston Street; 401-274-8861; Open 24/7

• Emmanuel House; 239 Public Street; 401-421-7888

LIBRARY BRANCHES:

Residents may also seek shelter from the cold at the following Providence Community Library Branches. Please call the library to confirm if they are open in the event of a snow-related parking ban. Libraries will be closed on Monday for the MLK Holiday.

• Mt. Pleasant Library; 315 Academy Avenue; 401-272-0106

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm

  • Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Sunday: Closed

• Olneyville Library; 1 Olneyville Square; 401-421-4084

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

• Providence Public Library; 150 Empire Street; 401-455-8000

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 08:30 am-7:00 pm

  • Wednesday: 08:30 am-7:00 pm

  • Thursday: 1:00 pm-5:00 pm

  • Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm

  • Saturday: 08:30 am-4:00 pm

  • Sunday: Closed

• Rochambeau Library; 708 Hope Street; 401-272-3780

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm

  • Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Sunday: Closed

• Smith Hill Library; 31 Candace Street; 401-272-4140

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm-5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

• South Providence Library; 441 Prairie Avenue; 401-467-2619

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

• Wanskuck Library; 233 Veazie Street; 401-274-4145

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Thursday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

• Washington Park Library; 1316 Broad Street; 401-781-3136

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Thursday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

• Fox Point Library; 90 Ives Street; 401-331-0390

  • Monday: Closed for MLK Holiday

  • Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Wednesday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Friday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday: Closed

  • Sunday: Closed

COLD WEATHER QUICK TIPS:

• Be aware of the fire danger from space heaters and candles; keep such devices away from all flammable materials.

• Install recommended smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (at least one of each per floor in your home).

• Stay indoors and use safe heating sources.

• Do not use charcoal or other fuel-burning devices, such as grills, that produce carbon monoxide indoors.

• Outdoors, stay dry and in wind-protected areas.

• Wear a hat or hood to prevent heat from escaping the body and several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing covering all exposed skin during exposure.

• Bring household pets inside, if possible.

• Wear mittens and a hat, and cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

• Watch for signs of frostbite – Skin appears white and waxy, numbness or no feeling in that area, and/or possible blister.

• Watch for signs of hypothermia, such as Shivering and numbness, confusion or dizziness, stumbling and weakness, slow or slurred speech, and shock.

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Meanwhile…

Governor McKee Outlines Rhode Island’s Preparations for Snowfall and Extreme Cold

Governor Dan McKee today outlined the resources and health guidance available to help keep residents safe during snowfall expected Sunday and extreme cold anticipated to start on Monday.

The following emergency winter hubs, activated through the Department of Housing’s Municipal Homelessness Support Initiative, will provide additional overnight capacity to help keep Rhode Islanders safe. No referral through the Coordinated Entry System is needed to enter the hubs.

• West Warwick: West Warwick Civic Center, 100 Factory Street – Open Monday, January 20 at 4:30 p.m. through Thursday, January 23 at 10 a.m.

• Westerly: WARM Center, 56 Spruce Street – Open 24/7

• Woonsocket: 356 Clinton Street – Open Monday, January 20 at 5:00 p.m.

The following overnight drop-in shelters are available 24/7. Drop-in shelters are extensions of typical shelter operations but do not require a referral from the Coordinated Entry System.

• Pawtucket: OpenDoors: 1139 Main Street

• Providence: Crossroads Rhode Island: 160 Broad Street

• Providence: Emmanuel House: 239 Public Street

• South Kingstown (Peace Dale): Welcome House of South County: 8 North Road

On Saturday morning, Governor McKee and Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) Director Marc Pappas convened municipal emergency management leaders from across the state to discuss cold weather preparations. RIEMA maintains a listing of municipal warming centers that cities and towns will be updating throughout the weekend. Learn more, here.

In preparation for the snowfall, forecasted to begin Sunday night, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has crews on standby with 145 plows ready and an additional 220 vendors on call. RIDOT has 50,000 tons of salt ready to treat roads. Plows, trucks, and sanders will be out throughout the state, augmented by strategically placed tow trucks along major routes and areas where the state has seen incidents previously. If drivers must be on the road, they are urged to use extreme caution.

The Office of Energy Resources is in close communication with Rhode Island Energy (RIE) as they continue to prepare for the upcoming cold. RIE’s gas team continues to be ready for the drop in temperatures, with the LNG facilities on standby and staffed to vaporize as needed. RIE has additionally secured incremental electric resources and has additional crews available as needed.

If a member of the public is experiencing a heating crisis, their local Community Action Agency can assist with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, and heating systems calls. Visit the following site to identify your local agency: www.ricommunityaction.org. You can also access more information specifically about LIHEAP crisis assistance on the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website.

The Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding Rhode Islanders that during periods of extreme cold, people should dress in layers and cover exposed skin when they are outdoors; they should also limit their time outside and watch for frostbite or hypothermia. Inside, they should take precautions to avoid freezing pipes, including leaving water taps dripping and opening cabinets beneath sinks to let warm air near water pipes. Lastly, they warn the public to keep space heaters three feet away from anything that may catch fire.

Rhode Islanders in need of assistance or additional support are encouraged to call 2-1-1 to find available options. For additional information, visit RIDOH’s page on Winter Health Tips or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Extreme Cold. 

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