LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WTHR) — A Lafayette-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping end homelessness opened a new, $14 million facility this year.
Administrators say the building is a first-of-its-kind.
LTHC Homeless Services calls it the Engagement Center: a multi-level building that includes housing for the homeless, a day sleeping space for people who work third shift jobs, a medical clinic and medical respite rooms, crisis housing, and interim housing pods.
Executive Director Jennifer Layton said each of the programs is designed to get people moving through the homeless system more quickly and all in one place.
“Homelessness and healthcare are closely connected so we have to do better – people cannot get well if they don’t have housing,” Layton said.
Administrators said it’s also important to offer help all in one place instead of housing homeless people in a shelter and then sending them in many different directions for the other kinds of assistance they need.
So they say the Tippecanoe County Health Department has committed to providing healthcare services at the facility throughout the week.
On-site mental health and substance abuse services are also offered from a local healthcare provider that uses space in the first floor.
There’s even a hair-cutting station.
Kenneth Bowling will turn 60 next month. The veteran found himself without anywhere to live just a few weeks ago.
“So I slept in my car for two days,” Bowling said.
Bowling ended up at LTHC’s Engagement Center and received help from the Veterans Administration.
“They took me straight over to get me a bed for the first night so I'd have a bed and then they just started doing everything they needed to do,” Bowling said. “These people are great. I call them my angels. The Lord was looking out for me and sent all these angels to help me.”
Since opening the Engagement Center in late January, Layton said they’ve served nearly 300 people.
“Homelessness is actually a national crisis. There are, on any given night, over 500,000 people who are experiencing homelessness and so we must do better,” Layton said.
Layton said LTHC Homeless Services launched the project thanks to a capital campaign.
The organization was also the recipient of a $1.25 million grant from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in November.