Funding to Continue for Woonsocket Dignity Bus Homeless Shelter Amid Public Concerns and Corrective Measures

Funding will continue for the Dignity Bus, a former coach bus converted into a temporary homeless shelter in Woonsocket, following public concern over plans to defund the program. The state Office of Housing had initially announced it would not renew its contract with the Dignity Bus, which expired at the end of September. This decision prompted concerns among residents and city officials, who noted that homelessness remains a visible issue in Woonsocket.

Residents, like Jim Jabbotte, voiced their concerns at a City Council meeting, highlighting the persistent visibility of homelessness and related issues despite existing programs. The city and the Rhode Island Foundation purchased the Dignity Bus for $150,000 in 2023, and it began operating in December of that year, providing overnight shelter to more than 20 people at times.

The initial decision not to renew funding was partly due to concerns about the bus’s lack of emergency exits and plumbing issues. However, these issues have been addressed. Woonsocket Mayor Chris Beauchamp confirmed that the bus’s pipes are now connected to actual sewage systems and that breakaway windows have been installed to provide emergency exits.

The Community Care Alliance (CCA), which operates the bus, submitted a new plan to the state outlining corrective measures. The state Office of Housing has since tentatively planned to continue funding the Dignity Bus, following the implementation of the corrective action plan. Beauchamp emphasized that while the Dignity Bus is not a standalone solution to Woonsocket’s homelessness crisis, it serves as “another tool in our toolbox” to assist those experiencing homelessness.

CCA CEO Ben Lessing highlighted the importance of the shelter, noting that it offers a better alternative to sleeping outside. “It’s better than a tent. It’s better than someone holed up in some corner of the woods, if you will. And so it’s a step in the right direction,” Lessing said. With the state’s tentative plan to continue funding, the Dignity Bus remains an important resource for the community, reflecting the biblical principle of caring for the least among us, as seen in Matthew 25:35.

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