As the winter chill deepens, homelessness remains a year-round struggle. But this week, a disruption in services at warming shelters has added to the hardship, leaving many without the refuge they desperately need during cold temperatures.
The Hidden Struggles of Holiday Closures
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, which provides emergency shelter for the homeless, is no stranger to the challenges of operating during the winter months. On Monday, a surprise plumbing issue delayed the center’s scheduled repairs. The unfortunate timing of the incident meant that the center was unable to operate as it usually would, leaving those in need without a warm place to stay.
Executive Director Heather Hole Strout reflected on the unpredictability of running the center, saying, “You roll with it, because stuff happens every day.” The burst pipe was just another example of the daily challenges Strout and her team face as they try to help the homeless population in Newport. On any given day, the center is a lifeline for those who would otherwise face freezing temperatures outside.
But with the center closed for the holiday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the usual rhythm of operations was thrown off. The overnight shelter for the homeless shuts down at 7 a.m. each day, giving custodial staff just 30 minutes to clean before the breakfast program begins at 7:30 a.m. But on Monday, with no breakfast program scheduled, staff had hoped to use the quiet morning for maintenance. Unfortunately, that plan was disrupted when another pipe burst after the water was turned back on, this time in the sprinkler valve room.
The emergency repairs delayed everything and further strained the resources of an already stretched facility.
The Impact of Holiday Closures on the Homeless
For people already living on the streets, the holiday closures of warming centers add to the isolation and hardship they face. The Seaman’s Church Institute and the city’s public library, both crucial resources during the winter months, were also closed in honor of the federal holiday. Without access to these daytime shelters, many of Newport’s homeless residents were left to face the brutal cold without shelter or respite.
The lack of available services during holidays highlights a critical issue for the homeless community: even when resources are available, they’re often limited by bureaucratic schedules and funding constraints. For some, the day off for a holiday may be an opportunity for rest and reflection, but for those without a home, it is a reminder that survival doesn’t pause for the calendar.
Calls for Action Amid the Crisis
As the weather worsens and the need for emergency shelter increases, there has been growing concern among local lawmakers about the lack of support for the homeless. A recent call from 62% of Rhode Island General Assembly members urged Governor Dan McKee to declare a state of emergency for homelessness in the state. Despite the push from lawmakers, the governor has so far resisted, arguing that such a declaration would not necessarily unlock additional federal funding for homelessness services.
The reluctance to declare a state of emergency underscores the complexities of addressing homelessness at a systemic level. While emergency declarations can signal urgency, they don’t always translate into immediate resources for those in need. And in Rhode Island, as in many other parts of the country, the struggle is one of limited resources, conflicting priorities, and a system that can’t always respond quickly enough.
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