The Catholic Charities Housing Services Center is getting a new home. The organization which provides services for homeless men is expanding in order to help the most vulnerable.

“In our current location we provide 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week shelter operations and shelter services, including case work services. But when we decided to make the move to this location, we really wanted to concentrate on the critical needs of the homeless population and how can we address those needs in a single location, “said Mike Melara, executive director of Catholic Charities of Onondaga County

Moving from their current location on Clinton Street to Erie Boulevard will allow the organization to house an 80-bed emergency shelter, provide an onsite health clinic and mental health services.

“And we’ll have a commercial kitchen where we will offer a culinary training program for the residents so that they can begin their workforce development opportunity,” Melara

Forty of the professional housing services staff will be directly upstairs from the individuals they’re serving.

“Which we think will reduce any barriers for them to get the services that they need,” Melara said. “Our staff will be very present at this location which we think is a plus and staff are really excited to be here.” 

The site sits on three acres of land.

“If you look at this patio, this is a lovely location for our residents to be able to spend time and as I mentioned, greenery and shrubbery that will be very pleasing for folks who drive by this location but will also create a sense of privacy,” Melara said.

 The organization secured nearly $14 million in federal, state and county funding to build this new site.

“This is nothing short of transformative from where we started to being able to renovate this existing building and then add on all of this new construction,” Melara said.

In addition to the new center, there will be eight-single bedroom apartments for individuals ready for permanent-supportive housing. Melara says they expect to be moved in by the end of March.