Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM] broke ground Thursday on its new shelter village, The Bridge.
This comes after several years of planning, two public forums, getting funding approval and securing the location.
The Bridge will be a low-barrier, non-congregate shelter consisting of 48 tiny sleeping cabins on a fully enclosed campus, with a total occupancy of 56 adults. The site is located on Oakland Avenue, near HSHM and The Junction. It's expected to open sometime this winter.
“[HSHM] has been here for 107 years, and the past couple of years have been some of the most significant and challenging years of our organization,” HSHM CEO Matt Burgess said.
Innovative option for homelessness
Several areas across the United States have implemented homeless shelter villages similar to The Bridge.
Burgess said a shelter village is an innovative option for those who are currently stuck outside.
“It represents a significant step forward in HSHM and our entire community's efforts to provide a safe place to sleep for everyone we call our neighbors,” Burgess said.
The Bridge will offer a comprehensive array of mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, medical care and other supportive services on-site — hoping to eliminate barriers to access those services.
“[This] represents a paradigm shift in our approach to offering behavioral health services in the community,” Burgess said.
McLean County Board member Eric Hansen, whose district includes The Bridge site, said this is an important moment for McLean County.
“This is how we show that we care for every member of our community, and when we do care for every member of our community, we all thrive,” Hansen said.
Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady said he saw a man sleeping outside under a blanket near the Government Center just a few days ago.
“And it was a reminder to me that it's time that we as a community come together to do what Matt [Burgess] and his team and so many others of you that are out in the audience are doing today,” Brady said.
Dedication and collaboration
Over the past few years, Robbie Osenga with Catalyst Construction said he's been working alongside community leaders through the Regional Housing Recovery Plan, which evaluates McLean County's housing needs and promotes housing recovery.
“I've been continually moved by the innovative thinking and tireless dedication of the organizations already at work on the front lines. Among them, one voice consistently stood out — that of Matt Burgess and the entire team at HSHM,” Osenga said.
Osenga added that HSHM has done more than just dream.
“They've studied, they've listened, they've partnered, they've pressed forward with persistence and creativity,” Osenga said.
Catalyst is leading The Bridge's design team and will manage construction at the site. There has been lots of behind-the-scenes collaboration and teamwork fueled by a shared belief that everyone in the community deserves dignity, stability and the opportunity to flourish, according to Osenga.
The day finally came
HSHM board president Sally Salegna said the biggest challenge was finding a location that was zoned appropriately and available.
“We've been going through this for years now with just the lack of affordable housing in our community,” Salegna said. “So we were just hoping that this day would finally come, and the fact that it is adjacent to our existing property so we can share services, absolutely the timing was meant to be.”
Burgess said he looks forward to the positive impact that The Bridge will have on the community.
“All of us here at HSHM are incredibly excited to see this project come to life, and hope you are too,” Burgess said.
