Image by Crisis Ministries A rendering of the new Crisis Ministries building on Meeting Street.
First reporting: Crisis Ministries homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Charleston will receive about $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to build transitional housing for male veterans who are homeless.
The grant comes as part of the Obama administration's effort to eliminate homelessness among veterans within five years. In total, 40 states are sharing around $41.9 million to assist the cause.
In Charleston's case, the grant will go toward constructing a new $6 million shelter which will replace the current Crisis Ministries' building on upper Meeting Street. Forty long-term beds for homeless veterans will go into the new space.
I've seen a few posts around on the news of the incoming grant, but I'm going to go ahead and shoot you The Post and Courier's coverage if you'd like to read on.
Update October 20: On Tuesday, October 18th, Crisis Ministries broke ground on the site which is to become a food pantry, soup kitchen medical clinic and housing for 70 men and 40 homeless veterans by 2013.
The Charleston Regional Business Journal has a nice write-up on the groundbreaking ceremony with words of hope and excitement from a handful of locals who helped sponsor the project.
