Hitting the Road to Tackle Homelessness
The mission of Crossroads Rhode Island is to help homeless or at-risk individuals and families secure stable homes. Those served achieve this by engaging in a range of services including housing, basic needs, shelter, case management, referrals and education and employment services.
The Crossroads Rhode Island Street Outreach Program provides services in the field to highly vulnerable people trying to survive outside without housing or shelter. The Street Outreach Program has been very successful in housing some of the most underserved and difficult to engage street homeless.
In 2016, Crossroads received a grant from The Champlin Foundation to purchase a new vehicle for the program. The Subaru Outback replaces a very old van that was unreliable, expensive to operate and unsuitable for the project. The new vehicle is equipped with a GPS system and other technology that was desperately needed. It is also a suitable vehicle for reaching people living in outdoor camps or tents.
Engaging homeless individuals through the Street Outreach Program is the first step in helping these citizens find housing, followed by supportive services in their homes. Thanks to the Champlin Foundation, we have an important new resource in this critical process.
In the past 2 years, Crossroads Outreach Program has helped 140 individuals; of these clients, 71% have moved off the streets to permanent housing or safer places.