BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The community gathered on Thursday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new non-congregate shelter village in Bloomington.
“We’ve been working towards this day for a couple of years and are just thrilled to be able to pass another milestone in building more capacity for our unsheltered neighbors in this community,” said Matt Burgess, chief executive officer for Home Sweet Home Ministries.
Home Sweet Home Ministries proposed this project back in February and has been making plans for this Thursday ever since. Grants and donations have played a big part in funding this project, as Home Sweet Home Ministries needs three million dollars for the entire project.
“We’re raising $750,000 through that campaign, and we’re closing in already on $300,000. We’re very excited about the early turnout and the early response. The community is clearly behind this initiative and is showing that through their support, both financially and through other ways of supporting us as well,” Burgess said.
The non-congregate shelter known as The Bridge will give homes to unhoused people in the community, offering privacy, stability and a safe place to live until they can find a more permanent home. 48 homes, a community building, and bathrooms will all be a part of the build.
“This is part of the long-term solution that we need. This is the next step that we as a community need to be taking. We need to not have this be the only step that we have to remain committed to not only doing new ideas in addressing homelessness, but we have to pursue new ideas in providing more access to housing as well,” Burgess said.
The name of the project isn’t just random; it is not only at the end of a bridge in Bloomington, but the shelter aims to help the unhoused cross the bridge into a new chapter of their life.
“We chose the name of The Bridge because we wanted to give a nod to the location in the community. We’re at the foot of the bridge going into downtown, but really, we chose the name of The Bridge because it reflects the purpose of this whole project. We want to serve as a bridge for people who are stuck outside and help them get to housing,” he said.
The community will cost around $700,000 to maintain and run once it opens. It is projected to open in December of this year. Home Sweet Home has also started a campaign to raise $750,000 for the project. They are also waiting on a grant from McLean County that will give them almost $1.5 million for the project.
For more information about the project and Home Sweet Home Ministries, visit their websites.
