PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — With homelessness in Rhode Island at record highs, advocates are making persistent calls for urgent solutions to the growing crisis. Experts detailed the severity of the issue, noting that homelessness in the state has more than doubled over the past five years. Michelle Wilcox, president and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island, described the alarming trend as unprecedented in her more than three decades of work in homelessness services. READ: Providence councilors urge McKee to declare homelessness a public health emergency With continuous pressure on the state to declare homelessness a state of emergency and temperatures dipping into single digits, a joint Senate committee hearing was held Tuesday to discuss addressing the crisis. "I have never seen the level of people experiencing homelessness that we are experiencing in Rhode Island today," Wilcox said during the hearing. Lawmakers focused on the state housing department’s preparedness and the delays surrounding Echo Village, the state’s first pallet shelter community. "Last night we had 72 people in two rooms and we are getting close to our capacity," Wilcox added. MORE: RI senators push for emergency declaration to address homelessness crisis While Crossroads has multiple new developments underway, state Sen. Jake Bissaillon emphasized that resolving homelessness requires addressing Rhode Island’s broader housing shortage. "The sad reality is that decades of poor policymaking, decades of underinvestment have led to a true housing crisis in the state of Rhode Island, a crisis where there's been a year over year, a 35% increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness," Bissaillon explained. Constructed in April 2024, Echo Village has faced repeated delays due to regulatory hurdles. City officials initially promised the 45-unit shelter would open by winter, but as January nears its end, the units remain empty. When asked Tuesday when Echo Village would finally open, Rhode Island Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard said, "End of February, and I'm quite confident we’ll beat that." Lawmakers voiced frustration, highlighting the life-threatening conditions caused by the delays. "The delays and what the ramifications are on the weather that we're dealing with ... I don't know, my heart goes out to a lot of people that are having to live outside that type of weather," state Sen. Gordon Rogers said. "I don't know how they do it." ‘It’s time to listen’: Protesters demand action on homelessness as pallet shelters sit empty In December, Providence Mayor Smiley criticized the delays, citing increased costs and safety concerns. Originally budgeted at $3.3 million, the project has incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional expenses. "Many of these encampments are in my city, and we’ve had fires, overdose deaths, and incidents of violence," Smiley told 12 News. "The alternative housing options for the folks who would stay in these shelters are unsafe, and the extra protections required by the fire marshal are totally unrealistic and totally unreasonable." Goddard outlined the remaining steps for opening Echo Village, including electrification testing and final inspections, which she said are happening simultaneously. She also presented new initiatives, such as a homelessness dashboard, to improve transparency and accessibility to resources. "This is a matter of trying to be more transparent, provide information in alternate settings," she said. "And we'll also have information on our emergency winter hubs and a link to the coordinated entry system for people who are experiencing homelessness." AHEAD: RI gets $17M in federal grants to combat homelessness Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW