Crossroads holds ribbon cutting for Whitmarsh House Apartments in Providence

ON THE day that Crossroads Rhode Island held a ribbon cutting for its latest affordable housing development featuring 11 efficiency apartments for chronically homeless individuals and youth age 18-24, it also released a report about homeless youth. In 2015, 172 people ages 18-24 were in the emergency shelter system in Rhode Island, Crossroads said.
ON THE day that Crossroads Rhode Island held a ribbon cutting for its latest affordable housing development featuring 11 efficiency apartments for chronically homeless individuals and youth age 18-24, it also released a report about homeless youth. In 2015, 172 people ages 18-24 were in the emergency shelter system in Rhode Island, Crossroads said.

PROVIDENCE – Crossroads Rhode Island held a ribbon cutting on Monday for its newest affordable housing development, Whitmarsh House Apartments at 528 Dexter St., that features 11 efficiency apartments for chronically homeless individuals and youth age 18-24.
The property previously was a group home, owned and operated by the nonprofit Whitmarsh House. Transferred to Crossroads by Whitmarsh for $1, the name of the project is in recognition of the donation of the building.
Officials who attended the ribbon cutting for the approximately $1 million project were Crossroads President Karen Santilli, U.S. Sens. Jack F. Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and Rhode Island Housing Executive Director Barbara Fields, as well as Rebecca Boss, acting director, R.I. Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, and Brother John McHale of Whitmarsh Inc.
Crossroads Rhode Island received $660,000 in city of Providence HOME funds as well as $1,240,000 in funds through the R.I. Housing Building Homes R.I. state bond; and $144,780 in Thresholds program funding, to complete the renovation of the 11 apartments.
Crossroads also received a 2015 HUD CoC Program grant for the project, providing project-based rental assistance.
“This type of permanent supportive housing is critical to be able to provide the continuum of care and supports needed to move people out of homelessness and into safe, stable homes. For people who are chronically homeless, the intervention of permanent supportive housing provides stable housing coupled with supportive services – a cost-effective solution to homelessness for those with the most severe challenges,” Santilli said in a statement.
Crossroads also released a report on homeless youth, focusing on those ages 18-24. Last year, 172 people ages 18-24 entered the emergency shelter system in Rhode Island, according to the report.
The report said homeless unaccompanied youth are vulnerable to exploitation, adding many are disconnected from health care and mental health services and at great risk for mental health problems, drug and alcohol use, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, violence and unintended pregnancies. They also are at very high risk of committing suicide.
“It is fitting that today’s ribbon cutting ceremony and release of the report is taking place in November, which is National Homeless Youth Awareness month,” Santilli said. “It is our hope that this report will not only raise awareness of the issues we face around youth homelessness, but also present positive solutions as we move forward together to end each individual and family’s experience with homelessness.”

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