UPDATE 6:25 p.m. -Tallahassee City commissioners have passed the $500,000 measure to fund The Shelter's relocation by a vote of four to one. Commissioner Scott Maddox opposed, though Commissioner Gil Ziffer says he and his colleagues believe the relocation is a good move for the City of Tallahassee.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- Tallahassee is one step closer to opening a new homeless shelter. City commissioners will make a final vote on funding at a meeting on January 22.
The new location will replace the current shelter on Tennessee Street. City Commissioner Gil Ziffer says the 36,000 square foot facility will house almost 400 residents. The new location will be off West Pensacola Street near the Big Bend Homeless Coalition and Goodwill. It will be open 24 hours and provide a number of helpful services for residents.
"While they're there, there's going to be healthcare available to them," said Ziffer, "there's going to be counselors available on staff that can help them find the best way out of their situation."
The project will cost $4.5 million. Ziffer says most of that money is coming from private donors, but city commissioners are asking the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and United Way of the Big Bend to pitch in five hundred thousand dollars each to help with the remaining costs.
"I think all the commissioners and the mayor recognize that this is a good project not only for the homeless but also for the community overall," said Ziffer.
Construction will begin after all three funding partners make a decision, and ground breaking could happen as early as mid-February. Ziffer says they hope to see the facility open by December of this year.
WE'RE TOLD THE 500 THOUSAND DOLLAR MEASURE TO FUND THE SHELTER'S RELOCATION HAS JUST PASSED THE TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION BY A VOTE OF FOUR TO ONE -- WITH COMMISSIONER SCOTT MADDOX OPPOSED.
CITY COMMISSIONER GIL ZIFFER SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES BELIEVE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE SHELTER WILL BE GOOD FOR TALLAHASSEE.
