Dear Friends of Crossroads,
I am honored to share extraordinary news with our community. The Crossroads Foundation has purchased a home— not just a home— but a historic milestone for Crossroads. After years of planning, visioning, and determination, Maria’s House is now a reality.
Located in the heart of Hillcrest, Maria’s House — named after Maria Costello, a well-respected and beloved former executive director at Crossroads— is a historic home built in 1913 and officially registered as a historic property. We know that Maria’s spirit will continue to guide and nurture the women who walk through its doors, just as she did throughout her life.
Maria devoted more than 30 years to the Crossroads Foundation, serving as our Executive Director with unwavering compassion and commitment to women recovering from substance use disorder. She cherished the relationships she formed within the recovery community and believed deeply in providing women with dignity, stability, and hope at every stage of their journey.
Following Maria’s passing in 2022, the Board of Directors began exploring a meaningful way to honor her legacy. What emerged is a groundbreaking milestone for Crossroads: a pioneering, structured sober living home for any woman looking for a sober, safe place to live.
Maria’s House represents the expansion of a program that began in 1957, extending our continuum of care and strengthening long-term recovery outcomes. This two-year journey has been guided by collaboration, persistence, and belief in what is possible when a community comes together.
Special recognition is due to Joni Burnett, who recently retired from our Board of Directors, for her generous donation and tireless leadership in helping secure this home. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated board members whose collective efforts brought this vision to fruition. Because of their commitment, Maria’s House will serve as a sanctuary for countless women throughout San Diego County for generations to come.
Honoring Black History Month
As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor the resilience, leadership, and contributions of Black women in recovery and in the broader movement for health equity and justice. We recognize that women of color continue to face disproportionate barriers to treatment and long-term recovery. At Crossroads, we remain committed to providing inclusive, culturally responsive care where every woman is seen, supported, and valued.
An Invitation to Continue This Work
Maria’s House exists because of you. Because of donors, partners, volunteers, and advocates who believe in second chances and sustainable recovery.
As we enter this next chapter, we invite you to continue walking alongside us. Your support ensures that women not only survive, but thrive, as they rebuild their lives with stability, purpose, and hope.
Together, we are carrying Maria’s legacy forward.
With gratitude,
Lindsey Purdie
Executive Director
The Crossroads Foundation
