Crossroads Shelter Relocates


For 22 years, Crossroads Shelter has been serving the homeless in Southwest Virginia by not only providing shelter but also as a resource for rebuilding lives. Today, the shelter is turning a new page and embarking on a new chapter of serving the region’s citizens. Beginning April 1st, Crossroads is closing the doors on the facility on Calhoun Street and will be providing services to area homeless through an innovative program. Their new program allows clients to access Crossroads’ services through an intake person at the HOPE Ministry Center.
According to Pat Helton, Executive Director, “We have worked hard to improve the quality of services provided with a focus on the unique needs of each individual for an improved quality of life. The Board of Directors remains committed to continuing this work. We are still coordinating the details; however, we want to assure our community partners we will continue to provide shelter to the homeless in our area. These changes allow us to continue to fulfill our mission in the face of the growing financial challenges, pending legislative changes, and deteriorating facility conditions.”
Governor Bob McDonnell called for a focus on addressing the needs of homeless Virginians, housing, and services for those with very low incomes. The plan to leverage state resources more effectively for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness has created changes in funding for services. To qualify for funding, communities must restructure their overall system to address the needs of homeless individuals and families. Crossroads has been discussing these changes within the local Continuum of Care (COC) in order to meet these requirements and better meet the needs of the homeless in our area.
Andy Kegley, Executive Director for Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence (H.O.P.E), Inc., noted, “These are not spur of the moment decisions. Housing and human service providers in our region have been discussing funding cuts and programming changes trying to determine how best to manage.” Kegley added, “We believe this interim plan is necessary to build a stronger collaboration to more efficiently manage the homeless and at risk needs.”
Helton stated, “Crossroads’ approach with clients has been to embrace the process of change as one of discovery rather than going back to the way things once were. We have struggled with decreased funding and donations that required us to make cuts. There was a period we did not have 24-hour coverage of the shelter. The turning point—both a crisis and an opportunity to truly embrace the process of change as one of discovery—has been our fight against bed bugs. We have gone to great lengths with exterminators, protocols for washing and drying clothes and linens, purchasing equipment to heat non-washable items, and fumigating the building. We finally came to the conclusion this was a losing battle in the original part of the house with all the cracks and crevices for the bugs to hide.”
Bill Marshall, Board President for Crossroads Shelter, indicated the current economy has made it difficult to maintain the quality of the 100-year-old building at an acceptable level that is safe and decent for clients. Marshall noted, “Embracing the core values which guide us in providing services, believing every person is a valuable, worthwhile human being, and holding ourselves to the highest quality of standards lead us in this new direction.”
According to Helton, “We have shifted resources to provide the most effective use of funds and resources to best deliver services to the homeless population during this very difficult time, which has included the layoff of several staff members effective March 31. Our goal is to build partnerships as we make changes that will take us into the next phase of services.”
Helton noted, “Our intention is to rebuild—both the structure and program—and return to full operations to fulfill the mission of transitioning the homeless to independent living. We still need the community’s financial support during the transition phase in order to continue assisting the homeless in our community.” Crossroads has been proactive in responding to the challenging economic conditions by establishing Earthganic Greenhouse with the purpose of generating revenue for the agency. Helton noted, “Our greenhouse has been very well received by the community and, with the help of the community, will continue to generate some of the much-needed funding to support the agency. Spring sales at Earthganic Greenhouse will be vital in allowing us to continue sheltering homeless individuals and families in the coming months.”