Big changes are coming to the People’s City Mission homeless shelter. Pastor Tom Barber is the CEO and tells KLIN News they have purchased the entire block in front of the current building near 1st and P Streets and they will build a 100-unit family shelter with a gymnasium, classrooms and playground for children.
Barber says the expansion project will allow them to house 700 people. The current facility will be used as a men’s only shelter. “We really don’t have enough shelter space as Lincoln continues to grow and if you look at the next 10-20 years the need to help the homeless will increase.”
The new shelter will have a fence around it for security purposes. Barber says the men’s shelter will include an area for offices for agencies to come in and talk to them about a variety of services. Construction is expected to begin sometime next year and the goal is to have it up and running by 2027.