Wheeler Mission in Bloomington opened a new low barrier shelter last week, expanding its facilities.
A couple years ago, Wheeler purchased the building adjacent to it in the Westplex Avenue cul-de-sac.
The expansion will not increase bed capacity, according to plans stated when rezoning was approved for the Wheeler property in 2021.
Read more: Despite neighbor's objections, Bloomington council approves Wheeler Mission expansion
It will allow the shelter to move some of its 130 beds into the new building.
The President of Wheeler Mission, Rick Alvis, spoke during the ribbon cutting ceremony on February 15.
“If you remember in the other building, it was wall to wall people, especially in the wintertime,” Alvis said. “Now we’re able to spread out. We have 80 beds in this building and 50 over there.”
He said the new building will serve as emergency shelter. The other building will be geared more to programmatic shelter, for men needing longer term housing.
Wheeler Mission’s Dana Jones said the new building will give them space to treat people experiencing homelessness with dignity.
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