A Statement & Report – Community Care Alliance Chief Executive Officer Benedict Lessing: The Dignity Bus

Community Care Alliance spent over a year advocating with the State of RI to bring the Dignity Bus to Woonsocket as a means of providing emergency shelter to local residents. When the State discontinued its efforts, we worked with the Woonsocket City Council, the City’s Solicitor, Father Dan Sweet and the Diocese to bring the Bus to the City. In addition, we had worked with the RI Foundation to provide six months of operating funding after which time we requested ongoing funding from the State’s Dept. of Housing. To date, we have heard nothing from the Dept. of Housing as to the proposal submitted. Subsequent to the arrival of the Dignity Bus, there was a delay in implementation due to the legal process, approval by the City Council and finally hiring staff. As such, implementation did not begin until December 2023. Upon implementation, we encountered heating and electrical concerns and eventually mechanical issues, all of which are well documented. We worked through all of these issues to resolution in collaboration with our City partners, particularly Councilwoman Gonzalez and Mayor Beauchamp. On each occasion that the Bus could not be safely used due to the issues referenced, CCA provided alternative temporary space for homeless individuals in which to continue operations. We did so until there were no additional funds in which to support the project with operations being concluded in May 2024. Community Care Alliance continues to believe that the Dignity Bus is an important asset for providing emergency shelter and should be funded by the Department of Housing.