Soup kitchen opens at the State House

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A new soup kitchen to benefit the state's homeless has opened at the State House.

Homeless prevention advocates plan to open up the kitchen once a week in the State House Rotunda.

The grand opening took place Thursday at 3 p.m.

Advocates are opening the soup kitchen in order to push state legislators to take a closer look at homeless prevention during this legislative session.

"We felt that it was very important to bring people to the statehouse and make sure that our legislatures understand that it's real people that are involved here not just a number,"said Providence College Professor or Sociology Eric Hirsch.

They say that homeless figures increased in 2011 from 2010's figures, and that legislators need to consider more affordable housing measures.