PEORIA, Ill. – Work will begin next week on construction of a new men’s shelter for the Peoria Salvation Army.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning to kick off the work on the site of the building, the former AFL-CIO Labor Temple.
The new shelter will increase capacity from its current 45 individual men to close to double that number. It will also provide mental health services, job training programs, and life skills programs.
The shelter will be named the “Royal and Kathy Coulter Center for Hope Men’s Safety Net Shelter” in recognition of the namesake’s contributions to the project.
$18 million has been raised for the men’s shelter, administration building renovations, and exterior work that includes the parking lot. But an additional $12 million is needed for the second phase, which includes expanding and renovating the family shelter and food pantry.
Major Heath Sells says the groundbreaking shows the urgency of need for the facility, even with fundraising still needed to be done.
“Today, I hope is a beacon to those who need the Salvation Army to let them know that we’re committed to serving them, as well as a call to the community at-large to say we need your help as well,” Sells said.
Sells says the Salvation Army plans to continue approaching foundations and private donors as part of exploring every option to raise the final amounts needed for the project.
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