Residents and program participants defend West Bay Community Action transitional housing amid neighborhood complaints

Several residents and a program resident spoke at the West Warwick Town Council meeting April 28 to defend a nearby transitional housing program operated by West Bay Community Action amid neighbor complaints circulating on social media.

William Turner of 20 Highland Street said he lives adjacent to the facility and has not experienced problems. "I've never had a problem with these people," Turner said, offering to share saved social-media posts he believes mischaracterize residents as drug users. He told the council the neighbors housed there are trying to rebuild their lives.

Chief Machna said the police met with the program staff before it opened, that on-site security is in place and that officers have been called only for a small number of incidents that the department addressed. "They have security when working," Machna said, and he described the facility as rehabilitative and focused on helping people with employment and stability rather than operating as a methadone clinic.

David Kendrick, who identified himself as a resident associated with West Bay Community Action, thanked the council for working with program staff and urged the council not to close the program amid complaints. Kendrick said he has not been arrested, does not use drugs or alcohol, and is working to regain housing stability. "I've seen multiple complaints from other neighbors stating they want to shut the program down," Kendrick said. "There are people trying to get their lives together at the program."

Council members thanked speakers and recorded the comments without action. No formal code-enforcement or licensing actions were announced at the meeting.