A Lifeline at Risk

For thousands of Detroiters, Encrucijada de Michigan is the place they turn when there is nowhere else to go. Last year, over 17,000 people came through their doors for food, clothing, hygiene supplies and the vital documents needed to unlock a job, housing or a bank account.

But not long ago, there was a very real possibility that those doors could close for good.

After 55 years, Crossroads was facing a financial crisis that threatened its ability to continue serving the community. For an organization that sees an average of 47 people each day, closing would have meant more than the loss of a single nonprofit. It would have meant thousands of families losing a place that offers both immediate help and a path forward.

“In the years leading up to 2025, we had what we now call ‘mission creep,’” said Dr. Joseph D. Daniel-Hoste, executive director of Crossroads. “Crossroads had spread itself thin, trying to do too much.

“We were on the brink of collapse, and we had to turn the ship around.”

To revive Crossroads, Joseph reconnected with community, partners and launched a Return to Mission campaign.

At the time, United Way had received $22 million in funding requests due to the region’s extraordinary need. Knowing the significant resource limitations in the sector, Joseph reached out to United Way for counsel.

“I laid everything out: how close we were to turning lights off and then Crossroads would just not exist anymore,” said Joseph. “It was a very hard conversation.”

Later in 2025, Joseph received a call from United Way. Despite countless variables and obstacles, an opportunity had become available.

“I started to cry,” said Joseph. “It was the most amazing surreal moment on vacation at this beautiful camp looking out on the lake and learning that the United Way had come through for us in a way that we could have never imagined.”

COMMUNITY STEPS UP

With a fresh start, Crossroads began a more sustainable journey to serve Detroit. However, the hard times were not over as significant cuts and freezes to federal programs like SNAP and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program required Crossroads to expand their food services.

This past spring, United Way’s Sociedad Tocqueville launched a special fundraising campaign to support the increased community need for food assistance. Through this increased grant budget, Crossroads received an Emergency Food Grant.

While hosting the Tocqueville Society meeting earlier this year, Joseph was thrilled to come face-to-face with some of the folks that helped Crossroads continue to serve the community.

“It was a true pinch yourself moment; telling the story of this incredible grant to Tocqueville and then learning they helped make it possible,” said Joseph. “It was an amazing experience for everyone in the room, and a story I’ll tell for the rest of my life.”

The generosity of United Way’s Tocqueville Society, corporate partners and foundations help make this work possible, supporting United Way’s efforts to invest in trusted community partners like Crossroads so they can adapt and respond when families need them most.

With the additional funding, Crossroads could support their integrated, multi-access emergency food programs, including a pantry, grab-and-go meals, and Sunday soup kitchen.

“Across our community food insecurity is on the rise,” said Emily. “We are grateful for the generosity of the Tocqueville Society and the support they provide to help United Way invest in a network of partners who are on the ground every day, helping people meet basic needs, find stability, and create opportunities for a better future.”

HELPING ALICE

In the three main zip codes Crossroads serves, 64% to 75% of families are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), which means they struggle to meet their most basic needs like food, housing and child care.

For families who need it, Crossroads has become a second home. Their lobby feels like a living room complete with couches, a TV playing game shows, colorful murals and a quiet chapel room for prayer and rest.

Joseph said it’s not unusual to find someone sleeping on the bench in the chapel, adding “if that’s what our gift to the community can be, then that’s our gift to the community.”

“We’ve moved away from, ‘Do you have an appointment?’ to ‘Sure, come on in,’ because we recognize that for some of our clients, this is the only place they have to go.”

Through this welcoming and low barrier approach, Crossroads has become a top food services referral partner for 2-1-1.

“Crossroads is not a destination; we are the starting point,” said Joseph “You’re going to come to us, and then we’re going to launch you somewhere.”

“We are focused on making a real impact, not just providing a band-aid.”

Crossroads specializes in accessing vital documents necessary to get a job, driver’s license, bank account and lease a home or car. There is no sustainable way for families to move out of crisis without these documents.

“Everybody needs vital documents and so at every opportunity, I raise my hand and say, ‘Send them to us, this is what we do,’” said Joseph. “We have cracked the code for every state in the United States, we even do international document reclamation.”

Although these documents are essential, the costs to retrieve them is not often covered by common funding sources, which is why it’s so important United Way provides flexible funds to Crossroads.

“Flexible funding fills gaps left by other sources,” said Emily Mueller, director of Community Investments at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “If left unfilled, folks can’t move towards stability.”

STRONGER TOGETHER

Walking around the bustling center, executive director Joseph can hardly believe how partnership shaped a new beginning for Crossroads.

“In my time at Crossroads, I have gone all in with United Way,” said Joseph. “I celebrate the work, and we are stronger together.”

Joseph enjoys being a part of the United Way’s Connect4Care Community Information Exchange and participates in subcommittees for strategic impact and partner engagement.

Crossroads is also a Connect4Care referral partner through a collaboration with Henry Ford Health and United Way.

“I particularly celebrate giving back to a grantor like the United Way because I’m helping to shape the mission,” said Joseph. “That’s a unique experience, not a lot of grantors have those opportunities.

“I get to be in the room with United Way staff sharing my perspectives, my boots on the ground experience, as well as celebrating the impact grant dollars provide.”

As the organization helps more people take their next step towards stability, they’re grateful for the donors who helped them do the same.

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