Bloomington Breaks Ground on New Shelter to Aid Homeless Community

Bloomington has initiated a significant project aimed at addressing homelessness in the area, with the groundbreaking of the new Beacon Center on Tuesday afternoon. This center, located on the west side of Bloomington, is designed to replace an abandoned industrial complex and will provide both permanent and temporary housing, healthcare services, and employment resources for over 300 homeless individuals in the city and surrounding Monroe County.

The new facility on West 3rd Street will take the place of Beacon, Incorporated‘s aging Shalom Center on Walnut Street. Rev. Forrest Gilmore, executive director of Beacon, Inc., described the center as a metaphorical “landing strip” that guides individuals toward stability and hope. “The lights in the night that guide you home,” he said, emphasizing the center’s role in transforming lives.

Financial support for the Beacon Center has been substantial, bolstered by nearly $5 million in donations from more than 300 donors. This funding marks a community-wide effort to tackle homelessness and improve the lives of those in need.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, former Beacon client Christi Mathis participated by picking up a shovel, sharing her personal journey of overcoming homelessness. “If it wasn’t for them, I’d be nowhere,” Mathis stated, reflecting on her struggles with methamphetamine addiction for two decades. Now housed and sober, she credits the agency’s services for her turnaround. “I was scared, I was nervous. I didn’t think I could find a place to take me and my dog, but when I found them, it became home quick.”

The sentiment of hope is echoed by Julie Thomas, president of the Monroe County Commissioners. She expressed confidence that the new center will lead to additional success stories, illustrating the positive impact of compassionate local support. “Compassion and care locally do more to help those experiencing homelessness than heavy-handed federal policing,” Thomas remarked.

Mathis hopes her story will inspire others to seek help from Beacon before and after the new facility opens. She shared her progress since receiving assistance: “I’ve got a car, I’ve got my own home, I’m back in college online now. It goes to prove that the system works, and I love to be that example.”

The opening of the new Beacon Center is projected for the summer or fall of 2027, a timeline that underscores the community’s commitment to creating lasting support for the homeless population in Bloomington. As construction begins, the project symbolizes not only a physical space for shelter but also a beacon of hope for many seeking to rebuild their lives.