“Serious Health, Safety Concerns” at Providence’s Elmwood Community Center Lead to Program Closure

“Serious Health, Safety Concerns” at Providence’s Elmwood Community Center Lead to Program Closure

A leading Providence community non-profit is closing services — due to what they say is the failure of the City of Providence to properly maintain the building.

On Thursday, the Executive Director of the Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP) said they are ending all programming at the City of Providence-owned Elmwood Community Center (ECC) due to “serious health and safety concerns” — including asbestos, leaking roofs, possible soil contamination, and more.

CAPP, established in 2012, is a provider of social services in Providence that “operates, promotes and supports the development of human service programs aimed at improving the lives of low-to-moderate income individuals and families living in Providence.”

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“For the past six years, CAPP has been the lead tenant at ECC, which is owned by the City of Providence,” said Rilwan K. Feyisitan, Jr., Executive Director of CAPP. “Unfortunately, the physical condition of the ECC is in a state of dangerous disrepair. Recent testing conducted by the City found asbestos present in at least one area of the building. In addition, the ECC has been experiencing near constant roof leaks, and for several weeks this past winter our employees worked in rooms with no heat. We attempted to address this situation with space heaters, but the building’s outdated electrical system could not handle the extra load. We have also been informed that there is possible soil contamination from underground fuel tanks that are present or were at one point removed from the site.”

“We have worked with Mayor Elorza, the City Council, and our General Assembly delegation to address all of these issues. As the owner of the ECC, the City is responsible for its maintenance. However, the building is in such bad condition that repairs cannot be made fast enough to bring the ECC up to the safe and clean environment that community members and our employees deserve. Indeed, the City has estimated that the cost to repair all ECC building issues to be $4.6 million, yet only $1.9 million is available. Without a fully funded and clearly sequenced repair plan to address all ECC issues, we have made the difficult decision to leave the building,” said Feyistan, who said CAPP programs will end at ECC on July 31. 

CAPP in Community

Feyistan cited the role that CAPP plays in the community - and that the organization is looking for an alternative location. 

“We have used the ECC to offer programs including a food pantry, senior center, hot meals site, Dress to Progress professional work attire, Project Undercover providing diapers, socks and underwear to children in need, Rhode Island Works vocational and job placement assistance, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), the Fresh Start educational initiative, and a Little Free Library. Every year, more than 1,500 community residents depend on these services offered at the ECC,” said Feyistan. 

“That is why I am inviting you to join me next Thursday, July 18th from 6:00-7:30pm at the Renaissance Church (184 Broad St Providence, RI 02903) for a community forum to discuss the closure of the ECC and how CAPP can overcome this setback and once again offer all of the social service, health, job training, and other programs that Providence residents depend on,” said Feyistan.