Stabbing victim speaks out about homelessness crisis in Providence

By Daniel Keith

Email: dkeith@abc6.com

Twitter: @DKeithABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The homeless woman who was stabbed by a college student while she was sleeping on the streets in January is speaking out to raise awareness of the homeless crisis in the city and the lack of affordable housing.

Eileen Boarman has been homeless since 2013, when she lost her job in film production. In January Boarman was sleeping in a tunnel near the Alex and Ani City Center in Downtown Providence when she was attacked.

Boarman was joined by a group of activists in Providence Tuesday who say that the 59 year-old was attacked because she was homeless.

The man responsible is 22 year-old Conor Noll, a Pennsylvania native and student at Johnson and Wales University.

Boarman says she was sleeping and felt safe because there were other people in the tunnel and there were security cameras.

She said she remembers somebody stopping and whispering to her, “you’re not sleeping alone”, before she was attacked.

“My hand felt funny”, said Boarman. “I pulled the blanket off my head and there was just blood gushing everywhere.”

Boarman underwent surgery and was back out on the streets for almost two weeks before she landed a spot in a shelter. She’s choosing to speak out now because there are few options for her regarding affordable housing, as she will be homeless again starting Saturday.

Noll was released in February on $10,000 personal recognizance. He is due back in court in May.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019