People seeking relief from the frigid temperatures were allowed to come into City Hall where a temporary warming center was opened on Tuesday…

This is the first time in recent history that the city council chambers were used to shelter homeless individuals from the outdoors, advocates said.

“As a polar vortex grips Providence, many of our unhoused neighbors are being forced to sleep outside in dangerous temperatures,” said Roias, who was one of the councilors who led the effort, along with homelessness service providers.

Roias called the lack of 24/7 shelter beds in Rhode Island “woefully inadequate.”

This failure, Roias alleged, was on Governor Dan McKee and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and they “left us no choice but to take the unprecedented step of opening the City Council chambers as a community gathering space where folks are able to stay warm during freezing temperatures.” — Boston Globe. Jan.8, 2025

SH: Catholic churches should be allowed to open their basements —or other appropriate areas— to the homeless in extreme temperatures. I’m sure many of us laypeople would be willing to volunteer our services to help make this happen. The State should allow the Church again to exercise the works of love and mercy which are an intrinsic part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And where there is a will there is a way.