FLINT (WJRT) -
(03/20/13) - Nearly every night, the Shelter of Flint is filled to capacity. But things are changing at that refuge for the homeless. There are plans to move to a much larger facility.
The new home for the Shelter of Flint will be the Cedar Street Children Center. In about three weeks, Shelter administrators will move their offices to Cedar Street, just west of downtown Flint. Renovation work will begin in other parts of the building.
"We've got some construction that needs to take place, including a fire suppression system. That work will take place over the summer," said Liz Ruediger, director of development for the Shelter of Flint.
It's hoped the Shelter of Flint can move from its current location on Delaware Avenue around Labor Day. Priority Children will move out of the Cedar Street building and into the old Shelter offices on Sixth Street in Flint. A nonprofit agency will take over the homeless shelter on Delaware.
At their current location, there are about 50 beds in the emergency shelter and they are often full. At Cedar Street, they'll have 75 beds to better serve the homeless.
"It provides us with a great opportunity for growth," Ruediger said.
The Shelter of Flint has been where many homeless families have turned for a warm meal and safe place to sleep for 30 years.
"In a year, we've got about 1,300 individuals that are served. That includes women and children. About 60 percent of our population is actually kids under the age of 10. So we see a lot of children come through," Ruediger said.
The Cedar Street facility is about 70 percent bigger than the Delaware Avenue site.
"We're going to see a huge space increase, a lot of that for additional supportive services," Ruediger said.
Shelter of Flint says by moving closer to downtown, it will be better able to connect clients with the social agencies they need.
For more information on Shelter of Flint, click here.
