Cranston continues to debate homeless encampment ban

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkin’s executive order remains in effect banning homeless encampments in the city.

The executive order was signed days after the city council decided more time was needed to discuss the proposed encampment ban.

The latest step came from Monday’s city council meeting, in the form of a possible sub-committee to address homelessness.

According to the resolution, the sub-committee would be made up of one member of the administration, a representative from the police and fire departments, a representative from comprehensive community action programs behavioral health team and a member of the majority and minority parties on the city council.

“We all have to work together on this, and I think every one of us wants to help in some way and do something. Whether it’s go clean out I know some people have cleaned, some people have visited. We need to all work on this, not just out council, but state level, federal level and it needs to be a community event to help people,” said Cranston Ward 2 Councilwoman Kristin Haroian, Ward 2 councilwoman.

The sub-committee would focus on solutions to balance respectful treatment of the unhoused populations with the needs of public safety.

“And one of my concerns is if a child stumbles upon it, they might think it’s some type of play area and it’s very dangerous. There’s open needles everywhere, there was buckets of feces, it was horrifying,” said Cranston Ward 4 Councilor Richard Campopiano.

Several city councilors have taken the time to visit some of the encampments across the city and highlighted that while housing is a clear need, miscommunication can also contribute to the problem.

“I think some people don’t really know what they can and can’t do. It’s hard to manage life in general, never mind if you don’t have a computer and you are literally outside. So I was, I was just talking to someone for five minutes, was able to help them understand that they have a housing voucher they could actually – they don’t have to be there,” said Cranston City Councilor-at-Large Nicole Renzulli

Those housing vouchers are distributed by housing organizations in the city for section 8 housing, but some council members countered with extended wait times for services like that.

The resolution was passed at Monday night’s meeting and will return to discussion at the city’s ordinance committee meeting on September 12th.

In response to the city council moving forward with creating a sub-committee on homelessness, Cranston’s chief of police Michael Winquist said “Encampments pose a serious public safety risk to nearby residents and the occupants themselves. The subcommittee has not met yet, but the police department looks forward to further discussing the issue. In the meantime, the police department will enforce the mayor’s executive order.”

Following the executive order, the mayor’s office told ABC6 that Mayor Hopkins made the immediate decision due to homeless encampments located near schools ahead of classes starting.

Classes begin in Cranston on august 29th.