December 5, 2012
Safety and stability, what The Crossings at Fourth and Preston promises its sixty residents.
"When it's no longer life or death on the street, they are able to focus on what they need to take care of themselves," said Erin Briggs, one of two case managers at The Crossings.
But the transition from the streets to the supportive housing unit hasn't been seamless. Since opening it's doors six months ago, Charlottesville police have been called to The Crossings 53 times.
"The additional 53 calls for service that we have received there does put a drain on our services," said Lt. Ronnie Roberts of the Charlottesville Police Department.
According to police logs, police were called ten times for disorderly conduct issues. Another eight calls were from other government agencies asking for help or backup. Six calls were made for trespassing issues and four calls for drunkenness.
"Most of the calls generated there have been for disorder-type behavior where two people may have become involved in a disagreement and required law enforcement services," Roberts said.
But officials with The Crossings point to another number, 98 percent. That's the success rate of residents who have moved in and stayed.
"They have been utilizing case management," Briggs said. "We have people who have started working or gotten on disability or gone back to school."
The Crossings is at full capacity at present time, with 3o residents being low-income and another 30 being chronically homeless.
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