Providence City Council urges Gov. McKee to declare state of emergency
by NBC 10 NEWS
The Providence City Council has passed a resolution urging Gov. Dan McKee to declare a public health state of emergency to address the homelessness crisis.
The resolution, introduced by Councilor Justin Roias, will be sent to both McKee and Mayor Brett Smiley.
Councilors Justin Roias and Miguel Sanchez took action on Tuesday by collaborating with local service providers to open the Council Chamber as a warming space for unhoused individuals.
On Wednesday, the DaVinci Center served as a temporary overnight warming center with the mayor’s approval.
“This week, we saw firsthand what compassion and action can achieve when public servants and community members come together,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “Homelessness is rising, and not just in Providence. It’s a statewide crisis. Rhode Islanders are freezing on our streets, and we cannot address this alone. Governor McKee must step up and declare homelessness a public health emergency to mobilize needed resources. We need immediate investment to increase the availability of life-saving short-term solutions, and we need to come together at every level of government to address decades-long systemic failures. Further inaction will cost lives.”