Breaking the Cycle: How Crossroads Rhode Island Supports Survivors of Domestic Violence and Families

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we sat down with Ashley Rogers, Director of Family and Domestic Violence Shelters with Crossroads Rhode Island. Ashley is a dedicated advocate and program leader with a background that spans pharmacy studies, social work, and direct family support, Ashley’s journey reflects her deep commitment to empowering individuals facing both homelessness and domestic violence.

In her current role at Crossroads, Ashley works on the front lines, supporting clients in family shelters, managing crisis situations, and helping survivors rebuild their lives. Her insights shed light on how domestic violence intersects with homelessness and how Crossroads provides more than just housing—it offers safety, emotional support, and comprehensive care for individuals and families.

Tell us about your professional journey and what led you to Crossroads Rhode Island.

I originally went to school to become a pharmacist, as I was a first-generation high school graduate, and financial stability was important to my family. But since seventh grade, I knew I wanted to pursue social work. After four years in pharmacy school, life took me to Indiana, where I finally followed my passion and pursued social work.

During an internship with the YWCA of North Central Indiana, I was offered the role of Shelter Manager halfway through. I loved the position, which led me to pursue a graduate degree and work as a therapist. However, I realized my heart was in direct work with families. During the pandemic, I disliked doing teletherapy, so I sought a role that allowed in-person engagement—leading me to Crossroads.

What does your role at Crossroads involve, and what are your key responsibilities?

Every day is different. I split my time between administrative work, supporting staff, and working directly with clients—especially in family and domestic violence (DV) shelters. I also oversee programs that help clients navigate difficult situations, like mental health crises.

A major focus is Crossroads' new grant-funded transitional housing, which added seven apartments to serve more families. This grant is critical because, last year, we received nearly 1,000 calls from people fleeing violence or trafficking.

Crossroads offers more than housing. How does your role help connect people to comprehensive support?

Crossroads’ DV Program provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, domestic violence safe house, rapid response rehousing, advocacy, support groups, and children’s enrichment programs. We meet people where they are, offering not only housing but also emotional support and safety. Many clients are dealing with both homelessness and trauma from domestic violence. DV is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women, which underscores the need for holistic, person-centered care.

How does domestic violence intersect with homelessness, and how does Crossroads support survivors?

COVID increased stress and violence, and rising rent has trapped people in unsafe situations—especially those dependent on partners financially. While DV affects people from all economic backgrounds, poverty makes it even harder to escape. Even without the impact of the pandemic, housing is is often one of the most requested needs by DV survivors. Our transitional housing program is intentionally designed to help meet this need and make it easier for our team to help survivors transition from shelter into permanent housing. 

At Crossroads, we work to address these intersections by offering shelter, emotional support, and long-term solutions for survivors.

What advice would you give to Rhode Islanders facing both homelessness and domestic violence?

Start by calling our hotline — someone is always available to help. Even if we don’t have shelter space, we can connect callers with resources to help them.

We also need to focus on young people and address the generational transmission of violence. Society often normalizes violence, making it harder to solve. To break the cycle, we must offer support to both survivors and those who’ve committed harm. It’s about help, not judgment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, please reach out for support. Victims can call the Crossroads RI hotline at 401-861-2760 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. To learn more about Crossroads RI’s Domestic Violence Program visit our website at https://www.crossroadsri.org/housing-services/programs-services/domestic-violence-program.