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Still millions short of their fundraising goal, the Food and Care Coalition is pushing forward to begin construction on a $6.2 million transitional shelter in Provo.
The coalition is "under the gun" to get construction started because they have to be out of their current downtown building in less then a year, Food and Care director Brent Crane said Monday.
"Part of this is that we have to. Part of that is not by choice," Crane said.
A groundbreaking will likely happen sometime in June, Crane says, even without the full funding. The new building -- at 920 S. 300 East in Provo -- has to be built before April of 2009, when Utah County is scheduled to take over the property that will likely be used for a new convention center.
Crane submitted a building permit request to the city 10 days ago and continues to write grant applications and seek other sources of funds in the meantime. The design has changed substantially from the original concept.
The building will now have two above ground stories, instead of one below ground and another that would have required ramps for the disabled to enter.
"It's going to be a nice building, but it's certainly not going to be an ostentatious building," Crane said.
It will house 38 people -- 12 women and 24 men, numbers that are consistent with homeless population demographics. It is not considered a traditional homeless shelter but instead a place where a limited number of people can stay and receive the kind of help it takes to work their way of their situation.
There will be a cap on how long people can stay, though it could be up to two years. Classes, covering topics such as how to be good renters and good employees at a full-time job, will be offered to those in the shelter.
The coalition needs an additional $2 million to meet its projected $6.2 million construction cost and another $2.5 million to complete its endowment of $5 million.
"That's a big chunk of money to raise," Crane said. "I am hoping that by the time we walk into that facility we're debt free." |
