Almost there

BRIGHTON — Almost Home is two grants closer to expanding its shelter for homeless families. The nonprofit organization has received a $50,000 grant from Brighton’s Community Development Block Grant and a $50,000 grant from Adams County to help with the expansion.
    Almost Home Executive Director Terry Moore said the expansion will double the number of families they are able to assist from three to six. He said the property is currently being used as office space but because the office and retail market is “soft” and the need for housing for families is increasing, the board decided it would like to use the entire building as a shelter.
    There are going to be three bedrooms, a kitchen and a restroom on each floor of the house.
    “One of the things we’re going to do is, after the renovation is complete, there will be one bedroom that has an adjoining room to it so if the family has many children — historically it’s been very hard to house them unless you take two of the three shelter rooms for one family. In the new set up, it’s going to make it very easy. We could probably have a family with as many as five children stay in the room with their parents,” he said.
    More said he expects the project to cost pretty close to $100,000 and that new appliances and furnishings are expected to cost an additional $15,000. He also said they closed on the bids on Dec. 10 and that construction can start on March 1.
    “Certainly within 30 days we’ll be done ... and so we’re hoping to have a grand reopening around the first of April,” he said.

Photo by Crystal Nelson

The Almost Home facility should be able to start construction on a planned remodel in March.

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