RI Department of Housing to purchase Charlesgate property for $6.95M

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Housing announced Tuesday that it has entered purchase and sale agreement for the former Charlesgate nursing home for $6.95M.

According to the department, it plans to convert the former assisted living facility on Randall Street into 100 rooms for Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness.

The cost of the property will be covered by the state’s FY2024 Homelessness Infrastructure appropriation from the General Assembly. Those funds are for the purchase and development of temporary and permanent shelter and other housing solutions and stabilization programs.

Back in October, Governor Dan McKee announced that the state was adding over 300 new beds to the shelter system. The purchase and development of the Charlesgate property is part of the strategy to combat homelessness this winter and going forward.

Currently, the building is leased by local homeless service provider, Amos House and the YWCA, as a temporary shelter for homeless families and veterans. They are expected to use up to 57 rooms this winter.