Disagreement over proposed Memorial Hospital shelter plan in Pawtucket

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Housing advocates offered some scathing words at the Pawtucket City Council meeting Wednesday night.

The dialogue stemmed from a proposal to turn part of the old Memorial Hospital Building into a homeless shelter.

The plan would allow people currently staying at a motel in Warwick to move to Pawtucket.

Debra Duquette is one of over 100 people who would be moving into the shelter as part of the plan.

“If that doesn’t go through, I don’t know where I’m going to end up,” Duquette said. “Whether or not I can remain employed depends on whether or not I have a safe place to stay at night.”

Nick Horton is one of the forces behind OpenDoors, the organization pushing the proposal.

“We really think it will help clean up this part of the city, as you can see there’s a pretty dilapidated abandoned building,” Horton said.

Housing advocates said there have been some misconceptions about which part of the hospital would be used for the shelter, pointing to a smaller section to the north end of the property.

“People think we’re trying to move into this giant, dilapidated building which is not in any shape for a shelter,” Horton said. “We would never do that, this building is in good shape and it’s ready for people to live in.”

City Council President Terrence Mercer said the city is bound by prior restrictions on what the property can be used for.

“A few years ago, Judge [Brian] Stern established six categories [for the property’s use], none of which was a homeless shelter,” Mercer said.

Mercer said he sent a letter to the Attorney General’s office, looking for clarity on the use of the building.

He maintained the city council has no say but added he has heard strong opposition from his constituents.

“Every single person in my district, in that neighborhood and beyond has said they don’t believe that is the right use for that property,” Mercer said.

Horton said, if approved, the shelter could be open within a few weeks.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien’s office previously said the state, not the city, would make any agreement with the property owners.

OpenDoors is concerned opposition at the city council is delaying that process, as expressed by Andrew Horwitz, an OpenDoors board member, at the city council meeting.

“The concept that my representatives would do that makes me very sad and makes me not proud to be a resident of Pawtucket,” Horwitz said.