Crossroads Rhode Island

TO HELP HOMELESS OR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SECURE STABLE HOMES.

SHELTER,DIVERSION AND ASSESSMENT - DIVERSION IS AN APPROACH THAT PREVENTS AT-RISK PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS BY FACILITATING CLIENT-CENTERED CONVERSATIONS THAT HELP THEM EXPLORE FLEXIBLE, SAFE, AND COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ENDING THEIR HOUSING CRISIS. IN 2021, CROSSROADS PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DIVERSION SERVICES, INCLUDING RENT RELIEF RI, THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, AMONG OTHERS. AS A RESULT, CROSSROADS PROVIDED HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO 302 LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LAST YEAR, HELPING ALMOST 500 PEOPLE AVOID HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING 139 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.WHEN DIVERSION ISN'T POSSIBLE, IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY AT AN EMERGENCY SHELTER WHILE WE WORK TO FIND THEM HOUSING. THAT PRESENTED SOME CHALLENGES IN 2021 WHEN CROSSROADS HAD TO OPERATE ITS CONGREGATE SHELTERS AT REDUCED CAPACITY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM COVID-19. IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASED NEED, SHELTER CAPACITY WAS ADDED AT 371 PINE STREET IN PROVIDENCE AND AT THE NYLO HOTEL IN WARWICK. THESE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS ALLOWED CROSSROADS TO ADD 270 SHELTER BEDS AND TO PROVIDE SAFE SHELTER TO 1,148 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 193 CHILDREN. OF THOSE, 42 WOMEN AND 34 CHILDREN WERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.

HOUSING PROGRAMS- CROSSROADS IS THE LEADING PROVIDER OF HOUSING AND SERVICES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN RHODE ISLAND. IN 2021, THE AGENCY HELPED 921 ADULTS AND CHILDREN FIND A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME, INCLUDING 91 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. AN ADDITIONAL 739 ADULTS AND 458 CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING WITH SUPPORT, INCLUDING ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT, BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS IN HELPING PEOPLE END THEIR HOMELESSNESS IS THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF HOUSING THAT PEOPLE WITH VERYLOW INCOMES CAN AFFORD. GIVEN THE INCREASING NEED, CROSSROADS FORGED AHEAD WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CROSSROADS FAMILY HOUSING DESPITE PANDEMIC CHALLENGES. THAT PROJECT ENTAILED EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS TO 30 APARTMENTS IN 14 DIFFERENT PROPERTIES IN PROVIDENCE. AS PART OF THE AGENCY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE, ANDRESPECTFUL HOUSING, CROSSROADS OWNS AND MANAGES MORE THAN 370 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS STATEWIDE.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT SERVICES - GETTING A JOB AND KEEPING IT IS CRITICAL TO HELPING OUR CLIENTS MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING AND ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. TO HELP OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND SECURE BETTER PAYING JOBS, CROSSROADS OFFERED A BROAD RANGE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMS BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON LAST YEAR. DESPITE PANDEMIC CHALLENGES, 250 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN CROSSROADS' EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS ANDSERVICE, INCLUDING ADULT BASE EDUCATION, COMPUTER LITERACY, PRE-EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT (CNA) TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT. WE HELPED 93 PEOPLE FIND NEW JOBS LAST YEAR, INCLUDING 52 CNAS WHO WERE IN HIGH-DEMAND WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND NURSINGHOMES DUE TO COVID-19.