Mayor Landrieu, Partners Launch the Start of
Construction on the City’s First Low Barrier Shelter
Delivers Another Win in City’s
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
NEW ORLEANS – Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu,
joined by City officials and partners, launched the start of construction on
the City’s first low barrier shelter for the homeless. This project, located at
1530 Gravier St., delivers a request homeless service providers have long
advocated for and will be available for those in need of immediate housing,
particularly for those who have had challenges accessing existing services.
“Since 2010, this administration has been committed
to ending homelessness in New Orleans. With a number of partners, we have been
able to reduce homelessness by 90%. While we have made great strides, homelessness remains an issue,” said Mayor
Mitch Landrieu. “We are excited to launch the start of construction of the
City’s first low barrier shelter to serve our homeless brothers and sisters and
support those falling through the cracks of the homeless services system.”
This
project scope includes the 12,000 sq. ft. renovation of the
second floor of the old Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital Building. Funded by the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund
(NHIF), Downtown Development District (DDD), Louisiana Housing Corporation and
the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the 24/7 shelter will include 100 beds,
a living and community space, accommodations for special needs clients,
restrooms, showers, kitchen, and office space for the shelter operator and
service providers. Additionally, the space will include an exterior deck on the
second floor with storage lockers under the deck to provide personal storage
space for clients, and first floor access to adhere to the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
Capital
Projects Administration Director Vincent Smith said, “This is
such a great project to expand services for the most vulnerable residents of
New Orleans. This renovation will impact the homeless population
like never before.”
Serving
homeless individuals who have been resistant to outreach efforts, this shelter
is different from other shelters in that there are no barriers to entry. It is
at this facility where homeless individuals, especially those who reside under
the expressway can be effectively engaged, assessed, triaged and sheltered,
while case managers pursue permanent housing. Homeless clients staying at the
shelter will not be limited to short term stays as is the case for many
traditional shelters, as it often takes weeks or months for case managers to
connect them with permanent housing.
Office of Community Development Director Ellen Lee said, “For decades, many local
homelessness advocates have called for this type of shelter to ensure
unsheltered individuals establish immediate linkages to a safe, clean shelter
where they can be connected with service providers and resources to put them
back on the path toward permanent housing status. Establishing a low barrier
shelter in New Orleans is strongly supported by a number of partners including
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Downtown
Development District (DDD), the Louisiana Housing Corporation, the Southeast
Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, Unity of Greater New Orleans and its
over 60 service provider partners, and the Start Corporation.”
In
collaboration with a number of partners, the Landrieu Administration has
reduced the homeless population by 90 percent across Orleans. In 2011, the
City’s launched the City of New Orleans’
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, in partnership with local, state and federal
officials. The implementation of a low barrier shelter is the cornerstone of
this strategy. Additionally, in 2013, the City partnered with the Southeast
Louisiana Veterans Health Care System to open the Community Resource and
Referral Center, serving as a day shelter for the homeless and a central base
for case management services and other key resources. In 2015, New
Orleans became the first major city to end all veterans homelessness as part of
former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Mayor Challenge to End Veterans
Homelessness initiative.
Additionally,
Mayor Landrieu has been working with over 60 homelessness service providers
that make up the Continuum of Care to methodically implement a strategy to help
New Orleans’ most vulnerable residents transition off the streets and into
safe, permanent housing.
For
decades, many local homelessness advocates have called for this type of shelter
to ensure unsheltered individuals establish immediate linkages to a safe, clean
shelter where they can be connected with service providers and resources to put
them back on the path toward permanent housing status. Establishing a low
barrier shelter in New Orleans is strongly supported by a number of partners
including United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the
Downtown Development District (DDD), the Louisiana Housing Corporation, the
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, Unity of Greater New Orleans
and its over 60 service provider partners, and the Start Corporation.
DDD
President and CEO Kurt Weigle said,
“Today, we celebrate much more than 100 additional beds to get some of our
most vulnerable community members off the streets. We celebrate a new front
door to a comprehensive system of care to get people housed and keep them
housed. The DDD has dreamed of and worked toward this facility for almost
five years and is pleased to partner with Mayor Landrieu to bring it to
fruition. We also extend thanks to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center,
who believed in us and this facility’s ability to impact quality of life
Downtown, and who will help fund ongoing operation of the low barrier shelter.
”
HUD
New Orleans Field Office Director Earl Randall said, “The low barrier shelter is an
essential component in the City’s strategy to eradicate chronic
homelessness. The shelter will serve as a vital access point for those
hardest to reach and serve through conventional measures.”
Ernest
N. Morial Convention Center Board Chair Melvin Rodrigue said, “As
partners, we are proud to support the City of New Orleans in the establishment
of the Low Barrier Shelter. We stand confident in the services, resources and
opportunities this facility will bring to those who need it most. We look
forward to the completion of this project and continuing to serve as
collaborators in the mission to end homelessness in New Orleans.”
Louisiana
Housing Corporation Housing Authority Administrator Nicole Sweazy said, “New
Orleans continues to lead the way in the work to end homelessness. The creation of this shelter is another
example of the City’s dedication to ending homelessness. The Louisiana Housing Corporation remains
committed to ending all types of homelessness especially for those that are the
most vulnerable and have the greatest need.
The Emergency Solutions Grant funding provided by the Corporation will
provide essential operations to the shelter. “
Southeast
Louisiana Veterans Health Care System Director Fernando Rivera said, “We work every day to keep our
Veterans safe, and it takes continued partnerships to keep Veterans from
becoming homeless. The joint Community Resource and Referral Center is one way
we do that, and this new shelter is the next step in supporting our most
vulnerable population.”
Start
Corporation Executive Director Casey Guidry said, “Start Corporation is
excited to be part of the community collaboration that is leading to the
opening of the Low Barrier Shelter. This project is essential in helping our
most vulnerable citizens in getting shelter and eventually to the permanent
housing they need to live full lives.”
In
2016, matched by the DDD, the Landrieu Administration and New Orleans City
Council allocated $1 million to establish the City’s first low barrier shelter.
The
Low Barrier Shelter is expected to be completed by April 2018.
District
A Councilmember Susan G. Guidry said, “We acknowledged the problem of homelessness
in our city, took responsibility as elected officials and engaged in dialogue
and encouraged local agencies to adopt best practices regarding policy and
crucial public services that directly affect our homeless community. Today’s
groundbreaking proves that we are definitely moving in the right direction to
ensure that our homeless citizen become healthy and productive again, which
will benefit our entire community.”
District
C Councilmember Nadine Ramsey said, “This low barrier shelter is an integral part
of the plan to make New Orleans healthier and safer moving forward. Anyone who drives down Claiborne Avenue
recognizes that the need for this facility is great. As the Councilmember who represents the
French Quarter, I’ve been on the front line in the effort to solve our vagrancy
and homelessness problems. I am happy
that I gave my input and support to this project. It serves as an example of
the type of innovative care and accommodations we must strive for, to keep pace
with the changing needs of our City.”
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