The Phoenix Rescue Mission celebrated the expansion of its homeless shelter Thursday with a crowd of employees, benefactors and a few state representatives.
The shelter added 80 new beds and a computer training center to its campus south of downtown. The event was commemorated by a high school marching band and ceremonial chain-cutting ceremony.
Phoenix Rescue Mission CEO Jay Cory said these extra beds are just the beginning of helping the city’s homeless population.
“I’m not done yet, we’re just getting started, we’re just getting warmed up," Cory said. "The need is great and it’s underserved and we need to rise to the challenge,”
Cory said the goal of Phoenix Rescue Mission is to help homeless people learn skills to get them back on their feet rather than only provide shelter.
This expansion comes after budget cuts to Central Arizona Shelter Services closed an emergency overflow shelter in the spring.
The 120 homeless people displaced by the shelter closing are temporarily staying at St. Vincent de Paul’s cafeteria, but will have to leave by November.
