Crossroads Communities, a nonprofit organization, is set to open its first transitional housing project in Lebanon thanks to the acquisition of a former group home that will serve individuals facing housing instability.
The project will provide crucial support services for individuals recovering from addiction, mental health challenges and other barriers to independent living.
The property, located at 560 W Rose St., was previously a group home until the owner decided to retire during the COVID-19 pandemic and put the house up for sale. The facility’s layout makes it an ideal setting for transitional housing, and Crossroads was able to secure the funding needed to purchase the building. The project is near turnkey, requiring minimal renovation to be fully operational.
The facility will offer 10 rooms in total which will allow for up to 15 people and will provide essential wrap-around services to its residents. The space includes a kitchen, dining area, laundry room and open communal area. It is fully ADA accessible. Residents will have the option to cook for themselves, but staff will prepare two meals a day for those who prefer it. A small fee will be charged for the prepared meals.
Michael Couch, the executive director of Crossroads Communities, explained that the facility is intended for individuals dealing with judicial challenges, mental health issues, persistent mental illness and substance use disorders, rather than for families.
Some residents will come directly from treatment programs, staying six to 12 months to solidify the lessons they learned in treatment and receive additional support.
“They need time to reinforce what they’ve learned – practical things, extra support, skills training to live on their own, like financial literacy or job skills. These are things you and I take for granted that they don’t know,” Crossroads Director KJ Ullfers added.
In a partnership with Lebanon Community Hospital, six beds will be reserved for patients who are well enough to leave the hospital but cannot yet return to the streets. This arrangement allows those individuals to spend seven to 10 days in sober living while they recover, saving the hospital significant costs.
“Instead of taking up a $5,000-a-day bed at the hospital, they will come here and be monitored in sober living,” Couch noted.
During their stay, they will undergo intake, be offered case management and receive services that may help them transition back into the community if they so choose.
Security and resident safety are also key priorities. The facility will feature cameras and an in-house security system and a staff member providing social services will live on-site. Each resident will have a room with a locking door, with a few shared rooms, ensuring both security and personal space.
Couch emphasized the importance of ensuring residents are not only housed but also set up for long-term success.
“Our goal is to get people out of here – it’s transitional, not temporary, housing,” he said. “We want to make sure they are set up for the most success possible.”
To support this, residents will never pay more than 30% of their income toward housing costs. Instead of paying a flat fee for rent, residents’ payments will reflect the cost of renting an apartment at Crossroads rates.The difference between the two rates will then be deposited into an individual bank account, which will be released to the resident upon moving out. This savings will help cover first and last months’ rent and a security deposit for their next living situation.
The project is also supported by other local organizations with donations of furniture and other essentials coming from local residents, including Furniture Share, a nonprofit that provides furniture to those in need.
Crossroads Communities has partnered with healthcare providers and secured grants from the state to fund the project. Couch noted that while they aim to run the program like a business, ensuring accountability for every cent, the goal is always to support those in need.
“It’s a two-edged sword – we’d like to work ourselves out of a job, but the Lord tells us the poor will always be with us,” Ullfers said. “We do things differently. We found the secret sauce on what the model should look like to best use the resources we have.”
The facility expects to open by the end of quarter one next year and be immediately at capacity.