New small homeless homes in Birmingham finally come – Al.com

On Tuesday afternoon, Glenn Davis and Shei Jones had a fire under an interstate 65 viaduct in the center of Birmingham.

“The fire service is no longer confused with me,” Davis said of the fire, which keeps them warm at night while sitting under the overpass.

Like more than 350 others living on the streets of Birmingham, Davis and Jones are homeless.

On Tuesday, the Birmingham Municipal Council approved funding for two agencies that will lead individual groups of pallet shelters as part of Birmingham’s homes for all, safe sleep.

The first group of 15 pallet shelters will be created on the other side of the street, from where Davis burns his fire, at the Center for Care of the Chapel’s Faith, which already offers services for homeless like laundry and showers.

“It’s nice,” said Davis, who grew up in Texas, but began to live on the streets of Birmingham after being released after surgery at UAB Hospital. “Some people have burned their bridges at home. They cannot return home. I’ve been a homeless for about eight years. “

Jones said she was left in homeless shelters. “It’s not for me,” Jones said. “I like to move a lot.”

But both Davis and Jones said they would be thinking of moving to one of the new pallet micro -spaces.

Birmingham has a contract paying the Care Care Center for the chapel of nearly $ 1.2 million to host and manage services for 15 of their home’s home at 921 Second Ave. North.

Reverend Debra Bleillo, director of the Faith Chapel Care Center for Faith Faith, said it expected the pallet homes to start this fall.

Urban Alchemy will receive more than $ 1.54 million to host and launch services for 30 to 60 microsistors in two places in the city that have not yet been indicated.

The city spent $ 1 million for $ 50 shelters in 2023. Blaylock said they were in storage, ready to gather.

The pilot program includes 50 shelters, along with the accompanying shower/bathroom units that can be assembled to form a small shelter community. A double -sided bath is installed for each group of 10 shelters.

The city hopes that microsoleums and support services will cope with the challenges created by the intersection of poverty, mental illness, addiction and homelessness.

“It will be changing life for many of our residents to Nesosi,” said Birmingham Mayor Randal L. Woodfin. “These partners have a proven record for support for UNHOUSED residents and helps them to go on the way to sustainably owned housing. Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep and a safe place to call their own. We are committed to playing a role in helping to happen to those who need it. ”

The Faith Chapel Care Center will provide homeless work, case management, postal addresses, consulting sessions, recovery meetings, independent life skills and day shelter, including access to washing machine and shower facilities.

Urban Alchemy plans to create a WELLNESS VILLAGE residential model, which includes landscaping, which creates a peaceful, safe environment for residents rich in service model with care coordination. They are currently providing services to the homeless throughout the country, including in Birmingham.

Urban Alchemy will provide the coordinators for care for progress monitoring, referrals, provision of consultations and will offer other assistance; Provision of support groups, anonymous meetings of alcoholics, social events, classes and other activities; and provide transportation to citizens with non -control.

“This is our opportunity as a city to demonstrate how important all our residents are everywhere in the whole spectrum,” says Dr. Megan Veneb-Thomas, Director of Community Development. “Our most vulnerable inhabitants in the living space are those who experience homelessness. This program allows us to meet the people where they are, and we provide the services needed for a long -term healthy, viable and sustainable home. ”

Venable-Thomas said the homes for urban alchemy should be ready by the winter.

The city works with a pallet shelter to create private, locking bedrooms that have a heating and cooling system and a desk. Microsators will be collected in safe, private communities. Anyone can be assembled for less than an hour and part of the price of traditional homeless shelters.

Previously, Birmingham supported the construction of a new facility for a $ 1 million fiery home shelter, and was helping the Alabama Way station facility for young people with $ 1.3 million. Each year, the Ministry of Community Development provides more than $ 800,000 federal grants to assist the Emergency Shelter and public service providers that help people who are experiencing homelessness. The city also partners with Jimmy Hale’s mission and other community suppliers to open a warming station to increase the bed space for those who need a warm place to stay during freezing.

Jones said she would think to give up her free lifestyle on the streets for one of the pallet’s homes nearby.

“If that would be appropriate,” she said.