LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new temporary shelter is about to open in Louisville which will give displaced families a place to call home during the winter months.
This is just the first step of a much larger $58 million project. The campus is expected to be fully operational in 2027 and include transitional housing, permanent housing, a medical and behavioral clinic, community gathering space and a Louisville Metro Police office.
On Monday, WDRB got a first look inside what will be a new temporary family emergency facility in Louisville. The former VU hotel and Guesthouse is being transformed into a Community Care Campus – located at the corner of Floyd and Breckinridge streets.
Volunteers of America will help run the campus, which is in Old Louisville.
“As soon as we can get our new unity house renovated which is in the existing VU we'll be able to start moving families over there as soon as soon as it's ready to be opened,” said Jennifer Hancock, Volunteers of America Mid-States president and CEO.
The temporary shelter will have enough rooms to house 14 families together – while some shelters separate the men and women.
Families currently on a waiting list are working with Coalition for the Homeless for placement. The temporary shelter is thanks in part to a $106,000 grant from the PNC Foundation.
In addition to the bedrooms and bathroom, a children’s playroom was also set up – complete with $500 in donated toys.
The current building does not have a kitchen so Feed Louisville will be donating three meals a day for the families staying at the shelter.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said accommodations are already being made for children during the school year.
“We've communicated with JCPS about this shelter so there is going to be a school bus stop that stops to pick up children and take them to school everyday,” Greenberg said.
Once the family center is completed the temporary shelter will be bulldozed to make way for affordable housing and medical respite.
“We don't want a single family living on the streets or in their vehicles or doubled up with families especially as we head into these winter months and into the holiday season as well,” said Hancock.
The first two families will move into the new shelter on Wednesday.
The Community Care Campus was first announced more than a year ago. The first phase of construction is expected to create a family emergency shelter. The campus will also offer medical services with partners at UofL Health and Norton Healthcare.
In 2022, nearly 11,000 people were homeless at some point in Jefferson County, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. A report from the coalition found homelessness in Louisville increased by more than 40% from 2018-21. And a majority of that homeless population is clustered around downtown Louisville, which was why the campus' location at South Floyd and East Breckinridge streets was chosen.
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- Community Care Campus in Louisville to help city's homeless population
- Louisville nonprofit breaks ground on housing facility that'll help homeless population
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