Rebuilt Motel Opens as Housing for the Homeless

Rebuilt Motel Opens as Housing for the Homeless
Aaron Jones, who was unhoused, now safely in his room at Crossroads Village. Photo by Peter Maiden

By Peter Maiden

Crossroads Village on Blackstone Avenue, housing for the homeless that was once a motel called the Smuggler’s Inn, had a grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on March 19. The Smuggler’s Inn was closed and in disrepair when it was purchased by the County of Fresno with funds from the State of California, through the Department of Housing and Community Development. Kaiser Permanente provided $510,000 for operational costs, mental health services and technical assistance.

The Village’s 165 housing units were developed at a cost of $100,000 each. This was considered cost-effective by the developers. Some units are connected for use by larger families. The units have microwaves, hot plates and mini-fridges. The complex has common areas and a swimming pool. Wings Advocacy Fresno provided residents with needed amenities for living in their new quarters.

The ribbon is cut opening Crossroads Village. L to R: Jerry Dyer, mayor of Fresno; Brad Hardie of RH Builders; and Fresno County Supervisors Steve Brandau, Nathan Magsig and Brian Pacheco. Photo by Peter Maiden

One resident of Crossroads Village, Aaron Jones, had a hard time after getting out of the Army a year ago. He had been stationed in Sacramento and served in Iraq. He lost his family, his car, his job and his student status. He came down with Covid-19 in the middle of last year and was referred to the Crossroads project.

“It’s nice to be living by myself,” Jones said. “People never intend to become homeless; it just happens.”

*****

Peter Maiden is the photo editor of the Community Alliance newspaper.

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  • Community Alliance

    The Community Alliance is a monthly newspaper that has been published in Fresno, California, since 1996. The purpose of the newspaper is to help build a progressive movement for social and economic justice.

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David
David
1 year ago

How about I was assulted my Pacific valley security while staying in the travel inn motel while it was being converted to program by brad and brad having my roommate forcivly sign paper by having police put him in back of cop car treating him with jail if he didn’t sign papers.

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