The Food and Care Coalition in Provo has a snazzy rendering of its new facility in the East Bay area, but construction can't begin until it's raised enough money to actually build the place.

"The longer we wait it's that much longer that people are out on the street," said Coalition Director Brent Crane. The project already has been approved except for a building permit, which the coalition plans to apply for when it has the money.

Crane said the group has raised a little more than $5 million for the project.

The tab for the building and services it would provide comes to $11.2 million. It would cost $6.2 million to construct the building and $5 million to fund an endowment for operations.

"We can't start building 'til we have the money or at least pledges," Crane said. "We're hopeful that we could begin by next spring."

Crane said the project needs at least the $6.2 million for construction, but they are raising the $11.2 million in one campaign.

Crane said a donor came forward and got the project started three years ago, and there have also been a few recent donations, but the coalition still needs more help.

"We're just quietly going about trying to raise the funds," Crane said.

The new facility would be built near 900 South and 250 East in Provo. Plans include 26 housing units for men with communal bathrooms and showers and 11 transitional housing units for women with private bathrooms.

One goal of the new facility is to provide transitional housing. Under the current system, the coalition provides motel vouchers, but does not provide shelter services. They also provide about 100,000 meals annually.

Crane said Food and Care serves about 200 people on a slow night. On busy days that jumps to about 500 people.

With the new facility, the group could provide housing for more than one night at a time. Residents could stay for extended periods so they could focus their energy on more than finding a place to sleep.

The Food and Care Coalition isn't the only organization that could use help. Community Action Services and Food Bank also is looking for donations.

At the beginning of the summer, Executive Director Myla Dutton said the food bank was short about 100,000 pounds of food and was hoping to raise that amount with a summer business food drive. Dutton said the food bank would make it through the end of the summer due to that drive, but more help is needed.

"We can feed people today. We can feed people next month," Dutton said, but she is concerned about the fall.

Dutton said there could be a point in the early fall where the food bank would have to turn people away unless it gets more help.

Community Action Services and Food Bank is holding a benefit concert from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday in Pioneer Park. They are asking for donations of $2 per person.

James Addis, who is organizing the concert said the music will appeal to all ages. It should be a mix of punk, blues and jazz.

To donate, visit www.foodandcare.org, call 373-1825, or visit any Wells Fargo branch in Utah and make a donation in the food and care donation fund.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.