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Residents press council on encampments and shelter access; city outlines enforcement, outreach and a municipal homelessness grant
Summary
Public comment and council discussion focused on unhoused encampments, shelter availability and enforcement; Captain Pickard reported about 10–11 active camps and roughly 46–48 people unhoused, and the council approved a $44,000 municipal homelessness grant amendment (25R150) to reimburse shelter and related services.
Homelessness, encampments and related city responses dominated public comment and council discussion at the Dec. 15 Woonsocket City Council meeting.
Multiple residents described local encampments and urged enforcement or humane alternatives. Pedro D'Souza (Water Street) and Allison Fisher (111 Water Street) urged shelter‑focused alternatives and asked for a moratorium on wintertime removals; William Doe and others urged enforcement and clearing of public encampments.
City staff and elected officials described a mix of outreach, offers of shelter and enforcement. Captain Pickard said his regular visits show fewer people in encampments than in prior years but reported about 10–11 active camps and an estimated 46–48 people unhoused at the time of his remarks; he said many occupants declined shelter offers and that enforcement proceeds via notice and, where appropriate, municipal court summonses. The public works and safety directors outlined steps taken: temporary signage, coordination with RIDOT for school‑zone safety, and placement of “no trespassing” notices at identified sites.
Mayor Beauchamp defended recent cleanups, saying crews provided warnings and that operations were intended to improve safety and presentation for public events. The mayor also said red‑light and school‑zone cameras remain under consideration as traffic‑safety tools.
On the funding side, the council approved resolution 25R150 authorizing the human services director to execute a revised grant agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Housing accepting a municipal homelessness support award (additional amount discussed as $44,000 to reimburse partner agency expenses). Council members asked staff to correct boilerplate date language in the grant template so the term aligns with current deadlines before final paperwork is executed.
Council members and staff acknowledged the challenge of balancing enforcement, shelter capacity and residents' concerns; councilors asked for continued outreach, clearer interagency communication, and documentation about shelter capacity and program timelines.
