Paulette Lewis, left, delivers a sandwich to Norman Mack, right, during lunch for seniors at the DaVinci Center for Community Progress on Charles Street in Providence on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
Just minutes from luxury downtown and university campuses in downtown Providence, lies a starkly different reality in the city’s North End. Providence is made up of 25 neighborhoods. The North End — which includes Wanskuck and Charles — houses nearly 19,000 people. Once home to factory workers, the area’s social demographics have shifted after years of underinvestment and aging infrastructure. It has become a refuge for vulnerable communities seeking affordable housing, including older adults, minorities, immigrants, and low-income families.
Disparities and social service gaps here were identified in a recent community needs assessment (CNA) conducted by the local nonprofit organization, the DaVinci Center for Community Progress…