Rhode Island

Homelessness in Rhode Island has doubled in five years, HUD report confirms – The Boston Globe

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2025

Homelessness in Rhode Island has doubled in five years, HUD report confirms – The Boston Globe

Rhode Island’s homeless crisis has made headlines in recent weeks — and for good reason. In my 30+ year career in homeless services, I have never seen the levels of homelessness that we are seeing in our state today.

A recent report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development confirms my own observations: Homelessness here has more than doubled over the last five years — and unfortunately, we expect Rhode Island’s homeless numbers to be even higher this year.

Even more alarming, the number of people who are staying outside in the Ocean State soared by 400 percent over the same period. As temperatures plunged to life-threatening levels this week, 650 people were living outside in Rhode Island according to local homeless advocates. Clearly, that is not acceptable.

In response to the urgent need, Crossroads quickly expanded our warming center capacity as dozens of people scrambled to come in out of the bitter cold. Providence City Hall also opened its doors to give cold-weary Rhode Islanders a safe place to stay, and I applaud them for their compassion.

But setting up a make-shift warming center in City Hall would not be necessary if the state had enough shelter beds. While I continue to believe that housing is the only proven long-term solution for ending homelessness, building housing takes time, often several years from concept to completion. With hundreds of Rhode Islanders currently staying outside in life-threatening conditions, it’s clear that we also need to meet the moment and scale up the state’s shelter capacity.

As the state’s leading provider of housing and services to those experiencing homelessness, Crossroads stands prepared to expand our current shelter services assuming adequate funding. We currently operate five temporary emergency shelters, including the state’s largest men’s shelter, a women’s shelter, a domestic violence shelter, a family shelter and the state’s only couples shelter. Last year, more than 1,500 people stayed in one of our shelters while we worked with them to help them secure stable homes.

While we ramp up shelter capacity, however, it’s critical that we also continue to stay focused on addressing the most urgent underlying issue contributing to the current crisis: a lack of affordable housing.

Governor Dan McKee, Speaker Joseph Shekarchi, and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley all deserve credit for prioritizing housing in recent years. Thanks in part to their investments, construction of our Summer Street Apartments in Providence is currently well underway, and when complete later this year, will provide affordable one-bedroom apartments for more than 176 formerly homeless adults.

This spring, Crossroads will be breaking ground on nearby 371 Pine St. in Providence, a 35-unit, innovative health and housing complex for medically vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness. A complete renovation of our Travelers Aid Housing at 160 Broad St. is also in the pipeline, and will add more than 80 studio and one-bedroom permanent supportive apartments to the state’s inventory.

When complete in 2027, these three affordable-apartment buildings will help reduce homelessness in Rhode Island, but of course, more is needed. That’s why, in what is expected to be a tough budget year, I urge state and local governments to continue to prioritize basic human needs.

State and local officials have tough decisions to make in the months ahead. Expanding shelter capacity is not optional — it is a life-saving necessity this winter. But shelter alone won’t end homelessness. Housing is the only proven long-term solution, and continued investment is absolutely essential to reducing homelessness throughout Rhode Island.

Michelle Wilcox is president & CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island.

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Rhode Island

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

Published

3 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

A Rhode Island school superintendent has resigned amid an investigation into alleged antisemitic hazing in the district, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.

Smithfield Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz announced her resignation in a letter addressed to the school community. Bartz has been on leave since November after a report of hazing at Smithfield High School.

The Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island said five high school football players locked a freshman student in a bathroom, sprayed Lysol at the student and yelled antisemitic slurs.

In her resignation letter, Bartz focused on her successes surrounding academic outcomes, special education and STEM opportunities and other positives for the district, and thanked the community.

“As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress
and momentum. I wish all our students, staff, and families continued success in the years ahead,” she wrote.

The letter did not specify a reason for the resignation.

WJAR-TV first reported on the situation on October, when the Bartz released a statement on its investigation.

“The investigation confirmed inappropriate conduct among a small number of students,” Superintendent Dawn Bartz said in a provided statement. “Disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.”

The statement went on to say that there would be mandated training and education in response. However, the involved players were back at practice, which didn’t sit well with the victim’s family. His parents said his son walked into practice and found himself face-to-face with his alleged assailants.

Five football players were initially removed from the team for the remainder of the season but were later reinstated. When asked about the reversal in October, Bartz issued a one-sentence statement saying, “The disciplinary process has concluded and we will not be discussing details involving students.”

Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni said the situation has deeply divided the community.

“It’s a long time coming,” Tassoni said of Bartz’s resignation. “A lot of people are angry about what happened. A lot of people don’t know the truth of what happened, nor do I.”

An investigation is underway by the school committee’s attorney and a report is expected to be delivered to the school committee sometime next year, Tassoni added. However, some people have concerns about transparency and have floated the possibility of hiring an independent investigator.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island said they want the focus to be on student safety.

“While we can’t speculate on the specific reasons behind the superintendent’s decision to resign, we remain focused on what matters most: that Smithfield schools become a place where Jewish students and all students feel safe, valued, and protected from bias and harassment,” President and CEO Adam Greenman wrote in an email.

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Rhode Island

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Published

15 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Prosecutors in Rhode Island dropped a fugitive from justice charge against a former Catholic school athletic director.

John Sung was arrested in East Providence last month. He was wanted in Florida for a non-violent felony.

After his arrest, he was fired from his position at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside.

Broward County court records show Sung was taken into custody last week. He posted bond.

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Rhode Island

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Girls wrestling took off last winter in its second year of state championships.

Exactly 50 participants, across a dozen weight classes, competed in the March extravaganza at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. Each weight class was contested, unlike the first year of the tournaments, and new title winners were crowned.

Pilgrim’s Allison Patten was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for her win at 107. The Patriots’ star also finished runner-up at the New England Championships and is among this year’s returnees. But who else should we be keeping an eye on this winter?

Here are 10 standouts who we think might shine this year.

Enjoy!

Athletes listed in alphabetical order.

Yasmin Bido, Hope

Senior

Bido snagged her first individual crown with a 16-0 decision at 152 pounds. The Blue Wave grappler also finished runner-up at 165 in Year 1 of the tournament.

Irie Byers, North Kingstown

Sophomore

Byers stormed onto the scene with a title in her first year on the mat. She captured the 120-pound championship with an 11-1 win in the finals. The Skipper returnee is one of a few wrestlers who could repeat.

Jolene Cole, Scituate

Sophomore

Cole helped Scituate to the team title in the first year that the award was handed out. Scituate is a bit of a girls wrestling factory, and Cole added to that lineage with her pin at 114 pounds.

Alei Fautua, North Providence

Sophomore

Fautua breezed to the title at 235 pounds with a pin in just 25 seconds. She led the Cougars to a runner-up finish as a team as Scituate edged the Cougars by just seven points. Fautua then finished fourth at the New England championships.

Kamie Hawkins, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

This year is all about redemption for Hawkins. She was one of the first state champions and came back last year looking to defend her 120-pound title. It wasn’t meant to be, but make no mistake, Hawkins is one of the state’s best.

Abigail Otte, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

Otte was a repeat champion at 138 pounds as she seized the title with a pin in 24 seconds. It’s likely a safe bet that Otte might capture her third crown in three years.

Allison Patten, Pilgrim

Junior

A repeat season isn’t out of the question for Patten. She won the 107 pound title with a pin in 49 seconds. What’s next for the junior? End the season with a New England title, too.

Chloe Ross, Scituate

Sophomore

It was quite the debut for Ross. The state crown was a breeze as the freshman won via pin in 1:16. But then came the New England tournament where the Spartan star snagged second place. Might there be a different ending to her season this year?

Meili Shao, La Salle

Senior

Shao was one of the first wrestling champions when she captured the 132 title two seasons ago. A repeat crown wasn’t in the cards as she finished runner-up in the class. But the Ram has returned and could be out to avenge last year’s finish.