You might know about the crossroads program, which is supported by Washoe County Human Services. It helps people struggling with homeless or near-homeless situations and addiction. Now the group is hoping to expand services with a new service provider after separating with Catholic Charities.
“Individuals that tend to be higher system utilizers, so they are individuals that are coming in and out of our emergency rooms, in and out of our jails, and they are experiencing homelessness," said Frankie Lemus, Behavioral Health Program Coordinator for Washoe County Human Services Agency. "What our goal to do is to help individuals get back to being productive, positive, and contributing members of Washoe County."
Crossroads has several different campuses around Washoe County, including locations for men, woman, and specific locations for woman with children. They provide a room, food, and various other medical and behavioral services. Crossroads accepts any Washoe County resident, regardless of ability to pay or health insurance, and their new partnership with Well Care will expand services to all participants.
“The wonderful relationship that we have with Well Care is that they have a whole range of other tiered housing options, so we will be utilizing multiple campuses to serve,” said Lemus.
“The Crossroads program is a partnership with Washoe County where we are working with them to help guide these individuals towards an improved life, towards recovery, and towards getting back on their own two feet,” said Amy Roukie, Director of Operations for Well Care.
But this program is far from a hand out, and more a hand up, as participants are required to follow rules, get assigned jobs and committees, and assist the community they live in, like community clean up done daily in downtown reno.
It’s a program that chef Kevin Williams is currently going though. “I've pretty much been an alcoholic for the last 30 years, the last 5 months I got to the point where I couldn't walk I was drinking so much, and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet that is going to last me the rest of my life."
Williams, a former executive chief, was at the end of his rope; homeless, living in weekly motels, and wheelchair bound due to alcoholism.
That is, until he was accepted into the crossroads program just a few months ago.
“It was like my last chance. It was a life or death situation for me, so it was really great that I was accepted into the program."
Williams had been to other shelters and services, but continued to struggle with alcoholism when he would get out.
"There's people here, resources, that will keep you on the right track. Because if you go out there on your own you are going to fall right back on the things that you were doing before without the help. I can look in the mirror now and I like the person that I see. I used to avoid the mirror at all costs because I just didn't like the person that I saw, with like guilt and shame...and I don't feel that anymore. I'm actually generally happy for once in my life."
