Central Falls opens first-of-its-kind transitional housing

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — Jenks Park Residence is set to officially open in May, bringing workforce development, education, and healthcare opportunities to some of the community most vulnerable populations.

The center has been in the works for the past year, as Central Falls has dealt with some of the highest rates of homelessness and child poverty in the ocean state.

“And then the first time in my career, in 24 years in Rhode Island, families started disclosing homelessness to me. Which takes a certain level of trust, a certain level of desperation and because it’s never been an issue that they disclosed to me I knew it had to be boiling over at this point. Because family after family were coming to me.” says Dr. Beata Nelken, the CEO and President of Jenks Park Pediatrics.

The most recent data on homelessness in Rhode Island from the point in-time count, shows a 15 percent increase in the unhoused population in the state.

Nearly three hundred more people in either emergency housing, transitional housing, or completely unhoused across the state.

“It feels welcome, it feels home. This is what we want them to feel when they come in, that they’re welcome, that they’re appreciated. That we’re here to support them. So, it’s exciting to know that in a month, in a couple of weeks, that this place is going to start being filled.” says Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.

The program has space for 30 residents, and those spots will be filled through a private application.

“We want to empower these families. It’s not just a crutch, it’s not just the band aid approach, it’s not just feeding them today it’s empowering them. These women have skills from other countries from other walks and chapters of their lives. So they- it’s just a matter of giving that stability. That housing, secure rent, the overhead is paid for, your kid has a safe place to play and a hot meal and all of those things.” said Nelken.

Advocates are hopeful this will make a dent in the ongoing housing issues across the ocean state but also say this is just a fraction of the work needed to fully address the housing crisis.