Boston Mike Remembered with Vigil, Call to do Better

Nearly 100 people gathered in Eisenhower Park in Newport last week to hold a candlelight vigil to remember the life of Michael Bourque, who died on March 18 after he was pulled from a burning abandoned truck where he sought refuge.

Bourque, 33, was trying to keep warm on a 19-degree night and his death highlights the danger every person who battles substance abuse and has no place to live faces every night.

That's why the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless organized the event, with a clear message: "We can do better."

“Our message tonight is that we can do better,” exclaimed Don Boucher, Assistant Executive Director for Riverwood Mental Health Services, who oversees the successful Housing First program in Newport and has seen dozens of Newporters battling homelessness be successfully housed. “What is maddening about this situation is that it is avoidable. We know how to tackle these problems of homelessness, addiction, substance abuse – we know what to do, we have the models, yet we continue to lack the public and political will to demand that we implement and fund those models.” 

The Vigil opened with a song by Officer Jimmy Winters of the Newport Police Department and a long-time advocate for those Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness. Winters is the founder of the Housing Hotline that is a non-profit organization that helps people with any kind of housing issue or homelessness. The Housing Hotline provides help with landlord- tenant issues, eviction notices, utility payments and emergency grants.

Jim Sullivan, an outreach worker for Riverwood Mental Health Services, knew Bourque, who was called “Boston Mike” by those who knew him because of his origins in Massachusetts. Sullivan spoke at the Vigil stating, “We can solve this problem, we can beat this dragon to the ground. We need to bring together concerned citizens from the public and private sectors to work together for a resolution to this solvable problem.”

Advocates pointed to the release of the newest homeless figures that show a decrease in the number of homeless Rhode Islanders for the first time since 2007 as evidence that we, indeed, can do better.

In February the 2013 Annual Statistics were released that showed a decrease by 9% in the total numbers of homeless from 4,868 in 2012 to 4,447 in 2013. The Annual Statistics also showed decreases from 2012 to 2013 for children, families and veterans entering homelessness.

The decrease has been attributed to a combination of a recovering economy and the homeless system beginning to see the benefits of programs outlined in Opening Doors Rhode Island, the state’s plan to end homelessness.

And with the recent funding of $750,000 for rental vouchers by the Legislature, 125 of the most chronic homeless are in the process of being housed. Advocates are calling on the Legislature to build on last year’s success by supporting legislation that continues to fund the solutions. 

Advocates contend that the decline in the homeless numbers are a result of funding focused on permanent supportive housing and they urged legislators to stay committed and focused on Opening Doors Rhode Island, the state’s plan to end homelessness and to make sure that it continues to be implemented and fully funded.

Opening Doors Rhode Island outlines a plan that significantly transforms the provision of services to Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness. Consistent with the new federal plan to end homelessness, the plan seeks to sharply decrease the numbers of people experiencing homelessness and the length of time people spend homeless. 

Cheryl Robinson, Executive Director for Turning Around Ministries, asked the crowd to, “REST, but not rest in the traditional sense but rather REST – Remember Michael, Encourage those trying to do something, Support the work to end homelessness and Try something, get out of your comfort zone.”

The Statewide Outreach Committee of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, which is comprised of outreach workers from around the state, had made a decision at the beginning of the year that if anyone died homeless while outside this year they would hold a vigil to bring visibility to the fact of Rhode Islanders dying on the streets.

The vigil ended with candles being lit as the sun set and Officer Winters played music. 

Roland Chase, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Newport County Citizens to End Homelessness, summed up the feelings of those in attendance when he spoke, stating, “We can’t prevent folks from dying but we surely can allow our fellow citizens the dignity of dying in a home rather than dying on the streets.”