The Michie Hostel Evictions: Dozens of Sponsored Homeless Tenants are Evicted onto the Cold Streets of Providence. What Happened?
Saturday afternoon, the Coalition Radio Network was informed, through contacts developed by “Sister Effort” Libertarian Mutual Aid, (LMA) that the residents of two Michie Hostels, at 230 Thayer Street on College Hill, and a South Side facility located at 41 Central Street, had been evicted, for non payment by Landlords Bryan & Cesar Michie. A resident, who had previous contact with Coalition Reporter Pat Ford, informed Ford that residents were outside, in the cold, with all of their belongings in trash bags.
An independent “Provider” JaamRek, managed by David O’Connor had been using funds, raised by a GoFundMe, with personal funds commingled, to pay for rent at the Hostel. (See Interview Above). According to Hostel Management, JaamRek was notified early in the week that in the absence of payment, the building would be shuttered. Mr. Cesar Michie, a partner, told Ford, via phone call, that comment would be made on Monday.
LMA had just visited the Central Street Hostel the previous evening for the first time … Having been notified earlier in the week that the facility lacked heat and electricity, and was in need of blankets and food.
Libertarian Mutual Aid routinely delivers basic supplies, including food, blankets, wound care kits, socks, bottled water, and Narcan to homeless encampments, meal kitchens and warming centers around central and northern Rhode Island.
What followed was a day long series of panicked phone calls, heated debates & dashed plans, as incredibly, a group of people, freshly “Re Homeless?” stood patiently, in the cold …. keeping watch on their bagged belongings … without even a place to sit.
The adjacent McDonalds served as a sort of warming station … and rest stop … as eye contact with the pile of bagged clothing, blankets and perhaps a few personal belongings rescued from the rubble of a life outdoors could be had.
The entire day was plagued with a series of constantly changing narratives … The City was in contact with providers, who, like Godot were always “on the way” … The Landlords would eventually let them in after a payment plan was negotiated, for the $4,000? $6,000? in rent that was in arrears. Residents expressed frustration that they found out about a potential eviction just the night before. A Friday.
Complicating the situation was the reality of attempting any sort of mass migration, for lack of a better word, on a Saturday. City and State Offices were closed. By early afternoon, any idea of renting a truck to move and store the residents belongings was rendered impossible, with truck rental facilities closed for the weekend.
And, as the afternoon wore on into evening, hushed conversations turned into outright arguments (See Videos Below) as Bryan Michie returned to the Central Street Facility to track “progress”.
Reporter Ford spent a good part of the late afternoon on the phone with City Officials, as well as providers, attempting to find space.
Ultimately, Providence Fire appeared on the scene, ready to ferry residents willing to move to shelters at Crossroads, Emmanuel House and the Providence Rescue Mission. Several residents opted to move to encampments. It appears that members of the Smiley Administration had actively intervened in negotiating availability of shelter beds. (The Coalition has reached out for comment)
Of Note:
The Facebook Page for JaamRek has been inactive since 2020. The Corporation is listed as active, and in good standing on the Corporate Database at the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
