It has been three years in the making. Groundbreaking for the new men’s homeless shelter, located at 127 McCorry Street in Jackson, was held Wednesday amid dozens of city leaders and representatives from non-profit organizations that offer resources for the homeless.
While there is more shelter space for women and children, 25 years have passed since Jackson has had a full-time shelter for men. Men make up the majority of the local homeless population.
The goal of the shelter is to provide 90 days of housing before the transition to a more permanent situation. Placing the shelter in close proximity to resources was a priority for those involved in the project, according to Jackson mayor Scott Conger.
“For most who will utilize the shelter, transportation is an issue,” Conger said. “JTA busing is close by. We wanted to make sure the shelter was close to RIFA, Area Relief Ministries, Aspell Recovery Center, United Way, and other sources of help.”
The city’s part in the shelter comes from concern for public safety. Funds were made available to be used specifically for establishing a men’s shelter and allowed the city to take a more direct role than in the past.
Upon completion, the shelter will house 17 men in individual spaces; but according to City of Jackson Chief Innovation Officer Lauren Kirk, that number will be higher once HUD relaxes Covid-19 restrictions that are still in place. This will allow for shared space and bunk beds that can be utilized to double the number of men the shelter can serve. There is also room on the McCorry property for future expansion.
The City of Jackson Empowerment Task Force headed up the project with Jackson Housing Authority, The Department of Housing and Urban Development, TLM Associates, Henson Construction, Dr. Vickie Lake, and Tennessee Homeless Solutions, which will oversee the day-to-day operations of the shelter.
Tennessee Homeless Solutions has extensive experience in service to homeless men in West Tennessee in the way of handling costs, programming compliance, and other operational issues. While federal grant money for the shelter can be used for construction, those funds do not cover operating costs.
The project is in the design phase, with the goal of beginning work by early summer and completion by January 2024.
