NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Montgomery County officials broke ground on Tuesday on what will be the county’s third supportive housing center to assist people experiencing homelessness, this one in Norristown.
The facility, which is expected to open later this year, will provide transitional housing for about 50 people. It is adjacent to Montgomery County’s Health and Human Services campus on DeKalb Street in Norristown.
Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder said on any given night, there are about 100 people on the streets of Norristown, like the man she recently met who hurt his leg, lost his job, and was forced to live out of his car.
“These are folks who often need a roof over their head, a safe harbor where they can just get back on their feet. Soon, they'll have that place right here in Norristown,” she said.
Similar to facilities in Pottstown and Lansdale, Winder said it’s not a typical homeless shelter; instead, it provides temporary housing and services like employment placement to get people back into a home.
Norristown Borough Council President Rashaad Bates said the facility will maintain the safety and integrity of the surrounding neighborhood.
“This is not just some open-ended building where people [are] going to be in and out all day, every day,” he said. “This is a very structured and intentional program. We’ll have 24/7 staffing, 24/7 security as well.”
The facility is the third of its kind in Montgomery County
