Department of Housing opens new temporary family shelter on URI campus

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of  Housing said that it has opened a new temporary family shelter on the western edge of the University of Rhode Island campus.

The warming center is a collaboration between RIDOH, the WARM Center, the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, and URI.

The shelter will be open through April and will have 30 beds to house up to 12 families.

Shelter staff will be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide case-management services.

“The opening of this shelter is part of our strategy to meet the needs of vulnerable Rhode Islanders in all areas of the state,” Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor said. “With the opening of this shelter, we have added 338 beds to the shelter system this winter, up 32% from the beginning of 2023.”

A full list of warming centers in the state can be found here.