Amos House moving homeless families to former Charlesgate nursing home

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The R.I. Department of Housing said that Amos House would be moving families experiencing homelessness to the former Charlesgate Nursing Center on Randall Street in Providence.

The organization said up to 57 rooms on three floors in the facility. The first 21 families will be moved from current arrangements at extended-stay hotels.

Families served by the shelter will have access to case management services as well as opportunities related to housing searches, job training, childcare, healthcare, and transportation.

The funding for these emergency housing operations come from the $30 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding Gov. Dan McKee put towards addressing homelessness in the state.

The department added that it is exploring the possibility of purchasing property rather than leasing as a cost effective measure.

“We are actively working to expand our shelter system, and this property will enable us to serve more Rhode Island families going forward,” Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor said.

The nursing staff at the former Charlesgate facility protested its sudden closure in May. The facility cited staffing shortages and decreased funding as the reasons for the closure.