The Sanctuary at Harvest Community Church started when 3 homeless men entered our Church service on a Sunday morning back on 2002. When Pastor Gene asked where they live, they said, “Actually, Pastor, we’re homeless.” After a sleepless night, Pastor Gene arrived at the Church on Monday morning with a deep burden to find those folks and learn more about homelessness in the city.
From there, way back in 2002, step by step, Harvest began opening our building to the homeless each night from November through April. Hearts were opened, and the Sanctuary Ministry was born.
Pastor Gene began visiting the local soup kitchen asking folks if they have a place to sleep. If not, he invited them to come and stay with us. At first, they were skeptical, but then they started to come – one, two, six, ten and more.
From humble beginnings—just donated blankets and pillows laid on the floor of our fellowship hall – to a fully-renovated basement that now shelters up to 25 men each night during the coldest months of the year, Sanctuary has faithfully served the unhoused community of Woonsocket for 23 consecutive years as of the 2025-26 season.
One ‘bed night’ is defined as one bed for one person for one night. As of February of 2026, Sanctuary has provided more than 75,000 ‘bed-nights’ of refuge and care to our city.
Our residents are welcomed into a warm, safe, and secure environment seven nights a week. They’re served by a full-time house manager and a team of volunteers who are available to provide encouragement, direction, Christian hope, companionship and spiritual support. The Church is also always available to help those who desire Christian spiritual edification and guidance.
This dedicated and compassionate staff also provides for their physical needs, including access to showers, evening meals, coffee, breakfast foods, clean bedding, toiletries and laundry services.
We allow our residents to store their belongings at the Church during the daytime and we also make mail service available to them.
In addition, we work with local officials, offering our space when bad weather impacts the local community during the months when the shelter is closed.
If you or someone you know needs shelter, call the Church office at 401-765-1777 to check for availability. Sanctuary is a men’s only shelter and does not allow entrance to anyone under the influence of substances or who may be considered a danger to other residents.
We operate from 6:30 pm to 7:00 am from November through April. Unfortunately, at this time Sanctuary is not handicapped accessible.
Resident data is collected and shared with the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless so they can assess the needs of the most vulnerable within the Rhode Island unhoused population and connect them with whatever resources are available.
How might you help?
- You can pray for our ministry, our residents and our staff.
- You can volunteer. There is always room for men to help serve food, provide companionship, pray with the residents, play a round of chess, or just watch a football game.
- You can provide a meal. We partner with several churches, local restaurants and individuals to provide meals, but we still have open nights.
Jeff Jaquith serves as the Director of our Church’s Sanctuary Ministry. If you have any questions, feel free to contact him at the Church office (401-765-1777) or email him at hccofwoon@gmail.com.