Time for some good news. It has finally dawned on cities across the country that the solution to homelessness just might be housing. Happily, Crossroads RI arrived at this conclusion some time ago and launched this ambitious building project, now taking shape along Stewart Street across from its current home, The Tower on Broad Street. Construction should be complete by September 2025, with residents moving in the next month. Wheeler Cowperthwaite writes in the ProJo about his recent tour of the new facility.
Once construction is complete, the people living in Crossroads’ current home, “The Tower” at 160 Broad St., will be moved into the new apartments. The 176 units are permanent supportive housing.
Then, renovation work on “The Tower” will begin. The 176 single-occupancy rooms will be transformed into 80 apartments. The city will end up with more than 90 additional income-restricted units when everything is done.
This has been tried elsewhere with gratifying and cost-effective results. Crossroads RI currently offers permanent housing for 176 formerly homeless men and women in The Tower. These are single occupancy apartments with shared bathrooms, like a dorm. They will be converted into 80 apartments.
The new five-story building will have solar panels on the roof.
The L-shaped apartment building and central courtyard will have an access road on one end and a few parking spaces, but will mostly be a green space, [Crossroads RI’s new president and CEO Michelle] Wilcox said.
Everybody needs green space.
Charity Navigator rates Crossroads RI a four-star charity. Donations are always welcome.