Construction starts on new homeless resource center in Florida

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Monday marked a new milestone in Palm Beach County‘s effort to end homelessness as county leaders broke ground on a new center for people in need of housing. There was a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning, where county leaders were excited to kickstart the construction of this new facility. “We are really aware of the most vulnerable residents in our community and what this means to them, to have a roof over their head, to have a safe place to be and then have the resources to help them get back on their feet and then get back to a place where they can call their own,” Mayor Robert Weinroth of Palm Beach County told WPBF 25 News. Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe new homeless resource center will be constructed in the vacant lot to the south of the Mid County Senior Center in Palm Springs.”We have so many homeless in this paradise of Palm Beach County,” District 5 Commissioner Maria Sachs said. “It is determined that there are over 1,500 (adults) who are homeless every night here in Palm Beach County and up to 4,000 children, so we need to do more.”Once completed, the new facility will offer the same resources as the Sen. Philip D. Lewis Center, and county leaders said they think they’ll be able to serve another 500 or so people per year. Right now, the Sen. Philip D. Lewis Center is the only other homeless resource center in the county.The new facility will have 60 beds people can use for about 60 days at a time. There will also be 14 transitional beds for overnight stays.”We want to make sure that everybody has a continuum of care so that they’re protected, they’re secure, they get on their feet and they get a job and they get a home,” Sachs said. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramThe initial cost of construction is $16 million and will be partially funded through the Infrastructure Sales Tax. The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County is also seeking donors for the project. As of now, county leaders are still working to determine what the new facility will be called.”Counseling, of course, meals, and again, a safe space to be able to sleep, for the kids to be, and the idea’s not for them to be here forever. We’re giving counseling, we’re giving assistance, and we’re going to help them be on their way,” said Weinroth. Palm Beach County Community Services leaders said the next Point-in-Time Count where the total number of homeless people in the county will be determined is set to occur in the next couple weeks. The last Point-in-Time Count was conducted in 2020.”We’re looking forward to getting this up and running as quickly as possible,” said Weinroth. The facility is expected to be ready in July 2023.A look at the world around us: WPBF 25 News Forecasting Our Future