Crossroads R.I. to reopen former R.I. family shelter in Warwick

KAREN A. SANTILLI, president and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island, said Crossroads is honored to step in to re-open the shelter. / COURTESY CROSSROADS RHODE ISLAND
KAREN A. SANTILLI, president and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island, said Crossroads is honored to step in to re-open the shelter. / COURTESY CROSSROADS RHODE ISLAND

WARWICK – Crossroads Rhode Island and the former Rhode Island Family Shelter in Warwick have partnered to reopen the shuttered shelter, Mayor Scott Avedisian announced Friday.
“Crossroads is honored to have been asked by the board of the Rhode Island Family Shelter and the mayor of Warwick to step in to re-open this valuable community resource for families who are homeless,” Karen Santilli, president of Crossroads Rhode Island, said in a press release. “We are committed to working with these families to get them housed as quickly as possible.”
A collaborative effort by the R.I. Office of Housing and Community Development, Rhode Island Housing, the City of Warwick and other local community partners and donors will provide funding to operate the shelter and housing program.
Crossroads began operating the shelter for homeless families on Beach Avenue earlier Friday. Crossroads will also provide services and support to the families living in the supportive housing units at that same location, Avedisian said.
The nonprofit’s financial struggles led to closing the shelter in early July, although the apartments for clients remained intact.
The shelter offers space for up to 10 families at a time. While in emergency shelter, these families will receive case management and supports from Crossroads to move into housing as quickly as possible. The seven families in the permanent supportive housing program will also continue to receive supportive services from Crossroads.
“I am very happy to know that this partnership will preserve all of the shelter bed space that was offered in the city of Warwick, and I am happy to see the relationship that has developed between Crossroads and the Rhode Island Family Shelter,” Avedisian said.
“The Rhode Island Family Shelter Board of Directors is excited about the reopening of the shelter as our goal was always to keep with our original mission of helping families in need. We appreciate Crossroads’ collaboration and experience during this transition time and look forward to our on-going relationship,” Christina Johnk, board chairperson for the shelter, said.

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