BUTTE – There have been numerous frustrating delays for the Butte Rescue Mission’s new homeless shelter. But, now, the organization is feeling optimist.
“It’s Valentine’s Day and it’s a lovely day,” said Rescue Mission Director Rocky Lyons. “The sun’s shining and we have lights.”
This week the new shelter being constructed at the end of East Platinum Street is finally has light and utilities connected to the buildings that will house up to 56 people.
“We’ve got the sewer and the water lines in, the gas lines in and so now with lights and heat we’ll be able to make some progress inside the units,” said Lyons.
The mission has been without a shelter since April of 2017, when the East Second Street facility was closed due to fire code violations. Since then, it’s been a struggle to get the new shelter going, but the opening date is within reach.
“I’m hopeful it will be the end of April, realistically, because of the weather, we don’t know what the weather’s going to do and the weather is the big hold up on a lot of things,” said Lyons.
So I’m in the kitchen, this is the serving window where they’ll serve food to people in the dining area. Obviously, there’s a lot more work to be done. This project ran into many delays, especially when they were trying to install the water lines.
“They hit solid granite under the road, which cost us a substantial amount of money plus time on that,” she said.
Now, the project appears to be on the homestretch. Butte’s Action Inc. estimates about 70 people are living homeless in Butte.
Reporting by John Emeigh for MTN News
