Housing: The Only Proven Solution for Ending Homelessness
Decades of underinvestment have led to a critical shortage of housing in Rhode Island, particularly for those with the lowest incomes. There simply are not enough apartments that people with very low incomes can afford. That’s why housing is at the heart of what we do here at Crossroads.
To help ensure our ability to provide safe and affordable housing for those with the highest needs, Crossroads currently owns and manages 375 permanent supportive apartments statewide, maintains strong working relationships with local landlords, and has a strong pipeline of new housing in development.
Beach Avenue Apartments, Warwick
In March of last year, Crossroads cut the ribbon on four newly renovated permanent supportive apartments for families on Beach Avenue in Warwick.
With the addition of these new apartments, a former convent and family shelter in a quiet, tree-filled neighborhood is now home to eleven formerly homeless families, serving as a great example of how underutilized properties can be turned into permanent housing for individuals and families in need.
"You don’t know how important it is, as a single mom, to know that your kids finally have somewhere to call home."
- Michelle Lee, Beach Avenue Apartments Resident
In the words of one of our residents, Michelle Lee, “You don’t know how important it is, as a single mom, to know that your kids finally have somewhere to call home. I am grateful to Crossroads and hope people will continue investing in life-changing projects like this.”
The renovation of Beach Avenue was made possible by a combination of public and private funding, including Building Homes Rhode Island bond funds managed by Rhode Island Housing, a Community Development Block Grant awarded by the City of Warwick and Bezos Day One Family Funds.
Roads to Home Capital Campaign:
Crossroads is creating nearly 300 permanent supportive apartments in Providence.
Through a combination of public funding and a $15 million private philanthropy campaign called Roads to Home, Crossroads is also creating nearly 300 permanent supportive apartments in Providence.
Projected to be completed by 2027, Roads to Home has three interconnected priorities: 371 Pine Street, the Summer Street Apartments, and 160 Broad Street.
Learn more below.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
Summer Street Apartments, Providence
After years of planning, construction of our Summer Street Apartments is now well-underway. Check out our timelapse construction video to the right.
When complete in the Fall of 2025, more than 176 formerly homeless adults currently living in dated single room occupancy units in our Travelers Aid Housing at 160 Broad Street in Providence will move across the street into beautiful and affordable one-bedroom apartments, each with a private bath, kitchen and living area.
The Summer Street Apartments will feature community gathering space on every floor, outdoor green space for residents to enjoy and easy access to healthcare, transportation and employment.
As part of Crossroads’ ongoing commitment to sustainability, our new five-story apartment building will have net zero impact. A diverse range of green building practices will be used during construction and a combination of on and off-site renewable energy solar photovoltaics will supply 100 percent of the building’s energy needs.
Learn more at: 94SummerStreet.com.
IN THE PIPELINE:
160 Broad Street, Providence
Once 94 Summer Street has been completed, current residents of our Travelers Aid Housing will move across the street into beautiful new apartments.
This will allow us to fully renovate and reconfigure what is now 176 dated single room occupancy units with shared bathrooms and no cooking facilities.
We will be reducing the density of the apartments at 160 Broad Street by about 50 percent in order to create 82 beautiful one-bedroom and studio apartments, each with a private kitchen, bathroom and living area that our clients are going to love!
Two new outdoor spaces for clients will also enhance the front and side of the building, featuring benches, phone charging stations and new landscaping.
Last, but not least, we are also in the process of making much needed repairs and exciting exterior enhancements to our headquarters. Over the last 18 months or so, we have repointed all of the brick and done other much-needed maintenance on our more than 100 year-old building.
This spring, we’ll be illuminating the Providence skyline with decorative new exterior lighting. As part of that project, our rusted Crossroads sign was removed last year and was recently replaced with a mounted display that has restored the "Crossroads Rhode Island" name to the main entrance of our building. Additionally, the Crossroads logomark was added to the top of the metal elevator shaft. New LED backlighting will be installed onto the signage in August 2024.
When complete in 2027, the renovation of 160 Broad Street and Travelers Aid Housing will improve client, staff and public safety, enhance the local neighborhood and serve as an important signal to our residents and the community that the people who live here are deserving of respect and dignity.
IN THE PIPELINE:
371 Pine Street, Providence
Also in our housing development pipeline is 371 Pine Street, a first of its kind in Rhode Island Health and Housing apartment building for medically vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness.
We received unanimous approval from the Providence City Plan Commission to proceed with the project last May and plan on kicking off construction with the demolition of the current building late summer 2024.
When complete in 2025, 371 Pine Street will feature 35 fully accessible apartments, a beautiful healing garden and ground floor offices for Crossroads staff and partner health care partners.
You can take an inspiring virtual reality tour of this innovative permanent supportive apartment building by tapping the play button to the right.
