Homeless and Advocates to March to Raise Awareness

A recent article highlighted protests held in Burnside Park on the five-year anniversary of Occupy Providence. Its author left early, and failed to spend time interviewing attendees, so the headline misconstrued the actual thrust of that event.

While many demonstrators indeed took the time to voice concerns surrounding of the relocation of the bus station from Kennedy Plaza to nearby the Amtrak station, there were plenty more issues at hand as well. Finally given a moment to speak, many of the city’s homeless eloquently voiced what they felt needed to change at the local level.

Some complained about a lack of social services, a lack of affordable housing or available shelters, and many lamented a rising cost in healthcare. One man voiced his concern that samaritans would prohibited from serving food in the park, an unfortunate trend that is sweeping the nation.

Others were concerned with what they felt was improper targeting of the homeless by the Providence Police Department. These worries are just a few of the challenges that Rhode Island’s homeless face every day.

On Tuesday, November 1st, at 11AM, members of the homeless community, as well as advocate organizations like the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless will be meeting at Burnside Park and marching from there to One Empire Street, where they will be meeting with Mayor Jorge Elorza to discuss the issues raised above and more.

Come join the conversation to continue to make Rhode Island a better place for the homeless.