The City of Woonsocket plans to buy a $150,000 bus retrofitted with beds for people who are homeless after Rhode Island’s deal to buy the “Dignity Bus” from a Florida-based nonprofit fell through. The Woonsocket City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to enter into a contract with The Source, a Christian-based nonprofit, for a […]
Woonsocket
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Woonsocket officer disciplined for wrongful arrest of homeless Liberian immigrant
A Woonsocket police detective who oversaw an investigation that resulted in the wrongful arrest and incarceration of Mack Blackie, a 35-year-old homeless Liberian immigrant, has been suspended without pay for 10 days and demoted to patrol officer. Timothy M. Hammond “failed to follow standard investigative procedures which ultimately led to the improper arrest of Mr. […]
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The Weekly Catch: March 10, 2023
We break down the top local stories from the past week.
Posted inArticle, Business
‘They’re gonna take my house. That’s what went through my head’ Why Woonsocket homeowners don’t have access to tax sale protections
A Rhode Island law protects homeowners from losing their house after falling behind on property taxes or utility bills. But a new investigation by The Public’s Radio found that homeowners in Woonsocket have been blocked from accessing those protections.
Posted inArticle, Health
Mobile addiction treatment clinic ordered to leave Woonsocket
The City of Woonsocket has ordered a mobile health clinic licensed to dispense addiction treatment medication to leave its current location, saying it’s in violation of city zoning laws. The “cease and desist order” states that the mobile clinic operated by CODAC Behavioral Healthcare is parked in a major commercial district rather than an area […]
Posted inArticle, Health
Lack of safe, affordable, community-based housing contributes to homelessness, addiction in RI
In December we brought you a three-part series called Chasing the Fix, an in-depth look at the challenges that some of Woonsocket’s homeless residents face with addiction. It was a project of The Public’s Radio health reporter Lynn Arditi, who spoke with morning host Luis Hernandez about the series, some of the developments since last month, and possible solutions to address homelessness and addiction in Woonsocket and around the state.
Posted inArticle, Health
Chasing the Fix: Addiction treatment on wheels
Inside a converted RV discreetly labeled “Mobile Healthcare,’’ Neville Johnson looked out at an empty parking lot in Woonsocket, R.I. with growing frustration. The mobile clinic was offering medications for people addicted to opioids to relieve their cravings – and their relentless search for drugs on the streets. But nearly two hours had passed on […]
Posted inArticle, Health
Blackstone River cleanup raising alarms about displacing people experiencing homelessness
Zap 50 expects thousands of volunteers to clean up areas along the river in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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Ep. 19: The Triple Decker Menace
You walk by them, maybe you live in one. But do you know the triple-decker home was once a symbol of anti-immigrant sentiment in New England?
