UPDATED: DHS Providence Has Closed

Published on Thursday, December 02, 2021

CRANSTON - As part of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services' (DHS) relocation plans, the Providence 206 Elmwood Avenue location has closed. 

A new office at 40 Fountain Street, in Providence, which is on several bus routes and a little more than a mile away from the Elmwood Avenue site, is for customers to ONLY leave documents in its secure drop box. Please note that the DHS lobby at this new location, however, is closed.  

If you would like an application or form mailed to you by DHS, you can request the document(s) without any wait time by using Option 3 on our Interactive Voice Recognition(IVR) System. Call 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347), and press 3. 

The application and additional forms can also be printed from this website (go to Apply Now for the application, Forms for SNAP recertification, change and other food assistance forms. Other program forms are found on the specific program's pages.) 

NEW: Providence and surrounding area residents can also now pick up applications and forms at Dorcas International (645 Elmwood Ave. Providence) and Amos House (460 Pine St. Providence). At Amos, there is also a photocopier on site and application assistance available.     

In addition to Dorcas International and Amos House, our SNAP Outreach partners, RI Works vendors and Community Action Program (CAP) agencies can also assist with applications and general questions. A Community Resource Guide with their contact information can be found here. 

The drop box at 40 Fountain is inside this building and documents can be placed in it Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:30AM to 4PM. All documents left in the drop box are retrieved at least daily during work days. 

There is updated signage at Elmwood Avenue to reflect these changes and new, additional options for customers. The signage also reminds customers about our online Customer Portal and HealthyRhode Mobile app options and the features for each. Click on the picture below to go to our page that has more information about the portal and app.