Warming centers are opening around Rhode Island. Here's where to find one.

Jack Perry, The Providence Journal
·12 min read

With "dangerously cold" arctic air moving into the region, the state, cities, towns and other organizations are opening warming centers to keep people safe.

Many cities and towns typically provide space at public buildings such as their town hall, police station or library.

In Pawtucket, a new emergency shelter has opened at 1139 Main Street. The site is limited to 16 cots because of fire regulations but also "has plenty of tables and chairs as well as additional space for anyone to rest and enjoy a meal throughout the day," the city announced.

More:We just had the third-warmest January on record, but this weekend will be dangerously cold

The shelter opened at 7 a.m. Friday and will stay open 24 hours a day through Monday. The Pawtucket Soup Kitchen will prepare three meals at the shelter each day.

According to Mayor Donald R. Grebien's office, the city and the Pawtucket Housing Authority have been working with the state for almost a year to get the building open and operating. Announcing the opening Thursday, Grebien said, “We are incredibly relieved, that this warming center will be open before the dangerous temperatures this weekend."

The state is sending out a request for proposals for a permanent service provider. For this weekend, the shelter is being run and monitored by Brother Gary Dantzler, executive director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, as well as other organization volunteers, according to the mayor's office.

More:We just had the third-warmest January on record, but this weekend will be dangerously cold

In Providence, the Diocese of Providence is operating Emmanuel House as both a homeless shelter and warming center "for the duration of the cold weather."

"I’m pleased that our homeless shelter, Emmanuel House, owned and operated by the Diocese of Providence, will be a warming center during this frigid weather," Bishop Thomas Tobin wrote on Twitter. "Emmanuel House: Our faith in action! Stay safe and warm everyone!"

The National Weather Service Boston released this graphic showing dangerously cold wind chills in the region Friday night through Saturday.
The National Weather Service Boston released this graphic showing dangerously cold wind chills in the region Friday night through Saturday.

Emmanuel House is located at 239 Public Street, Providence. Anyone seeking shelter or warmth can go directly to Emmanuel House or call 401-421-7888.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency's website provides a list of warming centers throughout the state, although the new shelter in Pawtucket and Emmanuel House aren't currently on the list. To see the list online, go to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency's website: https://riema.ri.gov/planning-mitigation/resources-businesses/warming-centers. People who need help can also call 2-1-1.

Below is the RIEMA list with the Pawtucket and diocese facilities added:

Where can I find warming centers in Rhode Island?

Barrington

Barrington Library: 281 County Rd.

  • Mon - Thur: 9 AM - 9 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 1 PM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401- 247-1920

Public Safety Building: 100 Federal Rd.

  • Open 24 Hours

  • Phone: 401- 437-3930

Bristol

Bristol Recreation Center: 101 Asylum Rd.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4 PM

Roger's Free Library: 525 Hope St.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 8 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Burrillville

Jesse Smith Library: 100 Tinkham Lane

  • Mon - Thurs: 8 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-710-7800

For Burrillville residents seeking warming centers outside of above hours please contact (401) 641-0898.

Central Falls

Forand Manor: 30 Washington St.

  • Mon - Sun: 9 AM - 9 PM

  • Phone: 401-727-9090

Wilfrid Manor: 466 Hunt St.

  • Sat - Sun: 9 AM - 9 PM

  • Phone: 401-727-9090

Charlestown

Charlestown Town Hall: 4540 South County Trail

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Charlestown Community Center: 100 Park Ln.

  • Mon - Thurs: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

  • Fri: 8:30 AM - 12 PM

Cross' Mills Public Library: 4417 Old Post Rd.

  • Mon: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Tues: 9 AM - 1 PM

  • Wed: 9 AM - 6 PM

  • Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM

  • Sat: 9 AM - 3 PM

Police Community Room: 4901 Old Post Rd.

  • Daily: 7 AM - 5 PM

For Charlestown residents seeking warming centers outside of above hours call (401) 364-1212 - extension "0"

Coventry

Coventry Police Department: 60 Wood Street

  • Available as needed. For assistance contact Coventry PD at (401) 826-1100.

Coventry Public Library: 1672 Flat River Rd.

  • Mon - Wed: 9 AM - 8 PM

  • Thu - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 12 PM – 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-822-9100

Coventry Department of Human Resource and Senior Center: 50 Wood St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-822-9175

Cranston

Central Library: 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd.

  • Mon - Wed: 9 AM - 8 PM

  • Thurs - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-943-9080

Cumberland

Cumberland Public Safety Complex: 1379 Diamond Hill Road

  • 24 hours / 7 days a week

East Greenwich

East Greenwich Community Center: 121 Peirce St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

East Greenwich Police Community Room: 176 First Ave.

  • Daily as needed

East Providence

Riverside Library: 475 Bullocks Point 

  • Fri, Feb 3 & Sat, Feb 4 (9 AM - 1 PM)

Weaver Library: 41 Grove Ave

  • Fri, Feb. 3 & Sat, Feb 4 (9 AM - 5 PM)

Exeter

Town hall : 675 Ten Rod Rd.

  • Will open over holiday if necessary

Glocester

Glocester Manton Free Library: 1137 Putnam Pike

  • Mon - Wed: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

  • Phone: 401-568-6077

Glocester Senior Center: 1210 Putnam Pike

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-567-4557

Glocester Town Hall: 1145 Putnam Pike

  • Will be opened as needed. Hours: to be determined, this is not a standing warming center.

  • Phone: 401-568-6206

Harmony Library: 195 Putnam Pike

  • Mon - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-949-2850

Hopkinton

Hopkinton Police Station: 406 Woodville Rd.

  • Available as needed. For assistance contact Hopkinton Police Department - (401) 377-7750.

Jamestown

Jamestown Police Station: 250 Conanicus Ave.

  • 24 Hours

Jamestown Town Hall: 93 Narraganesett Ave.

  • Normal Business Hours

Johnston

Johnston Senior Center: 1291 Hartford Ave.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-944-3343

Johnston Public Library: 1 Memorial Ave.

  • Mon - Sat: 9 AM – 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-231-4980

Lincoln

Lincoln Public Library: 145 Old River Road

  • Mon - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Lincoln Senior Center: 150 Jenckes Hill Rd

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 4:30 PM

Lincoln Senior Center: 100 Old River Rd

  • Sat/Sun: Please Call Ahead: (401)-333-1100

Little Compton

Brownell Library: 44 Commons

  • Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM

  • Tue: 7 AM - 12 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

  • Phone: 401-635-8562

Middletown

Middletown Public Library: 700 West Main Rd.

  • Mon - Thur: 10 AM - 7 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Sunday: 12 PM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-846-1573

  • CLOSED Christmas Eve and Christmas

Middletown Senior Center: 650 Green End Ave.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-849-8823

Narragansett

Maury Loontjens Memorial Public Library: 35 Kingstown Rd.

  • Mon - Thurs: 9:30 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 9:30 AM - 5 PM

  • Sat: 9:30 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 12 PM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-789-9507

Newport

Newport Maritime Center - Emergency Overnight Warming Center: 365 Thames St - lower level of the Armory Building

  • Thu, Feb 2 / (7 PM) - Fri 3, Feb 3 / (8 AM)

  • Fri, Feb. 3 / (7 PM) - Sat, Feb 4 / (12 PM)

  • Sat, Feb 4 / (7 PM) - Sun, Feb 5 / (8 AM)

Donovan Manor: 19 Chapel St.

(Closed following Newport School schedule – closed holidays, weekends, snow days, etc.)

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Edward King House: 35 King St.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 4 PM

Florence Gray Community Center - Main Lobby: 1 Shimoda Way

(Closed following Newport School schedule – closed holidays, weekends, snow days, etc.)

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Newport Public Library: 300 Spring St.

  • Mon: 12:30 PM - 8:30 PM

  • Tues - Thurs: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

  • Sun: 1 PM - 5 PM

Seamen's Church Institute: 18 Market Square

  • Wed - Sun: 7 AM - 4 PM

North Kingstown

Senior Center: 44 Beach St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

North Kingstown Library: 100 Boone St.

  • Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8:30 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 1PM - 5PM

North Providence

North Providence High School: 1828 Mineral Spring Ave.

  • Upon Request, call 401-231-8500

Senior Center: 2 Atlantic Blvd.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-231-0742

North Smithfield

Scouter's Hall: 10 Main St, Slatersville (Will Open if Needed)

  • Contact the North Smithfield Emergency Management Agency hotline at 401-767-2206 to request.

Pawtucket

New emergency warming center: 1139 Main Street.

  • 24 hours a day through Monday

Pawtucket Police Department Headquarters Lobby: 121 Roosevelt Ave.

  • 24 Hours a day

Pawtucket Public Library: 13 Summer Street

  • Mon - Thu: 9 AM - 8:45 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 4:45 PM

  • First Sun of the Every Month: 12 PM - 3:45 PM

Leon Mathieu Senior Center: 420 Main St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4 PM

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center: 175 Main St.

  • Mon - Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM

Portsmouth

Portsmouth Free Public Library: 2658 East Main Rd.

  • Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 8 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 1 PM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-683-9457

Portsmouth Multi-Purpose Senior Center: 110 Bristol Ferry Rd.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 3 PM

  • Phone: 401-683-4106

Pets

Pets needing sheltering may be taken to the Potter League for Animals, located at 87 Oliphant Ln, Middletown, RI.  The potter league closes at 5:00 PM daily.  If emergency pet sheltering is needed call (401) 846-8276 during and after normal work hours. 

Providence

Emmanuel House, the homeless shelter of the Diocese of Providence: 239 Public Street.

  • Open 24 hours a day as both a shelter and state warming center for the duration of the cold weather.

  • Phone: 401-421-7888

DaVinci Center for Community Progress: 470 Charles Street

  • Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-272-7474

Federal Hill House:  9 Courtland Street

  • Monday - Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-421-4722

Crossroads: 160 Broad Street

  • Open 24/7

  • Phone: 401-521-2255

Providence Library Branches

Knight Memorial Library: 275 Elmwood Ave.

  • Mon: 1 PM - 8 PM

  • Tues: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Wed: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Thurs: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Sat: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-467-2625

Mt. Pleasant Library: 315 Academy Ave.

  • Mon: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Tue: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Wed: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Thu: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5 30 PM

  • Sat: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-272-0106

Olneyville Library: 1 Olneyville Square

  • Mon: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Tue: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Wed: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Thu: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Sun: 10 AM – 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-421-4084

Providence Public Library: 150 Empire Street

  • Mon: 8:30 AM – 7 PM

  • Tue: 8:30 AM – 7 PM

  • Wed: 8:30 AM – 7 PM

  • Thu: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5 PM

  • Sat: 8:30 AM – 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-455-8000

Rochambeau Library: 708 Hope St.

  • Mon: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM

  • Tue: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM

  • Wed: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Thu: 9:30 AM – 8 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Sat: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-272-3780

Smith Hill Library: 31 Candace St.

  • Mon: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Tue: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Wed: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Thu: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-272-4140

South Providence Library: 441 Prairie Ave.

  • Mon: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Tue: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Wed: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Thu: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-467-2619

Wanskuck Library: 233 Veazie St.

  • Mon – Tues – Wed: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Thurs: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-274-4145

Washington Park Library: 1316 Broad St.

  • Mon – Tues – Wed: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

  • Thurs: 1 PM – 8 PM

  • Fri: 1 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-781-3136

Richmond

Clark Memorial Library: 7 Pinehurst Dr., Carolina

  • Mon, Wed, Fri: 1O AM - 5 PM

  • Tues & Thurs: 1 PM - 7 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 1 PM

Community Center: 1168 Main St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 12 PM

For Richmond residents seeking warming centers outside of above hours please contact (401) 539-8289.

Scituate

Chopmist Hill Senior Center: 1315 Chopmist Hill Rd.

  • Mon - Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

  • Sat - Sun: Will be open as needed. Notifications of weekend availability will be issued via CodeRED.

Hope Library: 374 North Rd.

  • Mon: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Tues - Thurs: 1 PM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Sat: 9 AM - 4 PM

North Scituate Library: 606 West Greenville Rd.

  • Mon: 1 PM - 8 PM

  • Tues: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Wed: 1 PM - 8 PM

  • Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

Smithfield

Greenville Public Library: 573 Putnam Pike

  • Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sun: 1 PM - 5 PM

Smithfield Senior Center: 1 William J. Hawkins Trail

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 3 PM

  • Smithfield residents requiring help staying warm after regular hours please call: 401-233-1033 and press 0

South Kingstown

Formally South Kingstown Adult Daycare: 238 Post Rd.

  • Call 401-783-3321 in advance for hours of operation

Tiverton

Tiverton Public Library: 34 Roosevelt Dr.

  • Mon: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Tues: 1 PM - 8 PM

  • Wed - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM

  • Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-625-6790

Tiverton Senior Center: 207 Canonicus St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4 PM

  • Phone: 401-625-6790

Warren

George Haile Library - 530 Main Street

  • Mon – Thurs    10 AM – 8 PM

  • Friday              10 AM – 5 PM

  • Saturday          10 AM – 3 PM

  • Sunday            Closed

Warwick

Pilgrim Senior Center: 27 Pilgrim Parkway

  • Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Phone: 401-468-4072

Warwick Public Library: 600 Sandy Ln.

  • Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 9 PM

  • Fri - Sat: 9 AM – 5 PM

  • Sun: 1 PM – 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-921-9743

Westerly

Westerly Public Library: 44 Broad St.

  • Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM

  • Fri: 9 Am - 6 PM

  • Sat: 9 AM - 4 PM

West Greenwich

West Greenwich Town Hall: 280 Victory Highway

  • Fri, Feb. 3 (8 AM)  - Feb 5 (9 AM)

West Warwick

West Warwick Public Library: 1043 Main St.

  • Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM

West Warwick Police Youth Center: 40 Factory St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4 PM

Woonsocket

Woonsocket Police Department Lobby Area: 242 Clinton St.

  • 24 hrs a day

Woonsocket Harris Library: 303 Clinton St.

  • Mon, Wed, Thu: 9 AM - 9 PM

  • Tue, Fri, Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Phone: 401-769-9044

Woonsocket Senior Center: 84 Social St.

  • Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4 PM

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Warming centers in RI open as temperatures drop. How to find one.