Though the number of unhoused people has been steadily rising, the governor has pushed back against a declaration. “I would be solving one problem by creating a new one,” he said. “I am not going to do that.

While emergency warming centers and overnight shelters have been activated across the state, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness stressed that this crisis extends beyond extreme weather and requires year-round action.

Councilor Justin Roias said 31 homeless people slept inside the city council chambers Tuesday night without issue.