PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — With the bitter cold looming, advocates in Rhode Island have been calling on Governor Dan McKee to declare homelessness a public health emergency .
Between 2017-2023, there has been 53.4% increase in homelessness in Rhode Island, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
In a statement Wednesday, McKee acknowledged that homelessness is affecting communities across the country, but said declaring an emergency won’t solve the problem.
“It does not unlock any new funding,” he said. “Similarly, if I were to use that emergency power to waive capacity limits in shelters or ignore other safety concerns such as sprinkler systems and adequate egress, I would be solving one problem by creating a new one. I am not going to do that.”
The push at the state level comes as Providence city leaders discuss their next steps, after two councilors opened the City Council chamber doors to those experiencing homelessness Tuesday night.
“We opened up the City Council chambers so that people didn’t freeze to death,” Councilor Justin Roias said. “I truly believe we saved lives.”