The Body Keeps the Score

The Crossings a decade later.

The Crossings at Forth and Preston, a supportive housing development, opened in 2012. Photo: brwarchitects

In 2012, at the grand opening of The Crossings, Jimmy Fitzgerald teared up when a reporter asked him how his life might change now that he had a home.

Fitzgerald, 53, had been living on the streets for years, and by his admission, had been arrested "hundreds" of times for public intoxication and various other charges. His new 360-square-foot studio apartment was one of 60 units in a new $7 million supportive housing development on the corner of 4th Street and Preston, a project first proposed in 2005.

Fitzgerald had a lease and the same rights as any renter, but his rent was capped at 30 percent of his income, and with local subsidies, would be even lower. On average, 30 apartments at the Crossings are reserved for those experiencing homelessness, and 30 uni…