Portrait of Impact: Summer Street

Crossroads Rhode Island is one of the largest service agencies in New England and has provided shelter and support services to Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness since 1894. The agency manages 370 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals and families, including 176 Single-Room-Occupancy units, and operates the state’s largest year-round emergency shelter facility. The “Travelers’ Aid Tower,” which houses the single-room occupancy chambers, was built in 1915 and in need of renovation — and as importantly — reconfiguration to provide residents with the privacy and autonomy that they deserve. 

The Traveler's Aid Tower, built in 1915, will undergo significant renovation and reconfiguration to expand living areas and add private bathrooms and kitchens.

As a result of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island grant, LISC was able to provide Crossroads with predevelopment funding of $1.1M — an amount well beyond our standard predevelopment investment. The Blue Cross & Blue Shield award allowed our local team to tap into additional funds and leverage resources so we are able to provide nearly half of the predevelopment financing necessary for this important project.

The new facility on Summer Street will house current residents while the Tower is being renovated. This facility will provide 176 rental units for individuals making less than 30% AMI.

With this initial investment, construction on the new Summer Street building is set to break ground in late 2022. When completed, 176 new rental apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms will be available to serve individuals making less than 30% AMI. The tower will then be reconfigured into 84 additional studio and 1-bedroom apartments — making another incremental and critically important step toward the elimination of homelessness in Rhode Island. 

In addition to new apartments, the project will include meeting and treatment space, and a private courtyard for residents.