Deal to build homeless intake center near completion in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — The deal to build a new homeless intake center in South Bend is close to completion.

The New Day Intake Center is nearing a final location for its new low barrier homeless shelter.

On Tuesday they took time to reflect on the last 4 years since Motels4Now was founded.

The New Day Intake Center is committed to helping the homeless population in South Bend.

At Tuesday’s news conference, they celebrated the work they have done so far.

They are also preparing for the work ahead with a proposed new site.

The deal to build a new homeless intake center in South Bend is close to completion. (WSBT video)

It has been a long road for the New Day Intake Center.

The selection process for the new site garnered quite a bit of attention and opposition.

Sheila McCarthy, the organization's executive director, says after the Bendix Drive property didn't work out, the originally desired area ended up coming back into the picture.

"There was a lot of questions and concerns about Bendix. We listened to those, continued to look for a place, always felt drawn back to Old Cleveland Road, and we're able to get the property adjoining to that. So, the city purchased 15 acres that would be for our useful transfer, five acres, over to us," said McCarthy.

With that location nearing completion, New Day officials are took time to look back at the positive work done in these last 4 years.

"So, we sheltered 775 people during that time and 77% of them are either doing well at the motel or have moved on to positive options of their own choosing. So that's amazing because we're taking people who don't qualify for other shelters in town,” said McCarthy.

One of those 592 people Motels4Now has helped is Jack Best.

Best is a Vietnam veteran and has been homeless for 20 years.

But with the help of Sheila and others, he now has his own apartment.

"I have a roof over my head, I keep warm, I have company that I want to come over, so y’all are invited, come on over too,” said Best.

The New Day Intake Center looks to raise $7.4 million through this capital campaign and then the city of South Bend will transfer to them the Old Cleveland Road property.

New Day officials are looking at late spring to start construction.