A community development block grant has helped the Family Service Association of Bucks County rehabilitate portions of the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter.
The $99,975 in federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development were awarded to Bristol Township and handed down to help the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter rehabilitate the HVAC system and dorms at the facility located near the Levittown Library and Bucks County Technical High School.
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The township has used $2.2 million from federal Community Development Block Grant Funds on numerous projects throughout the community over the past five years, according to officials.
The 30-year-old HVAC system at the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter was not properly cooling and heating and continually leaked. The system’s leaks would go through the ceiling. The updated system has gas-fired furnaces and new air conditioning compressors that replace five old units.
The funds also helped fund rehabilitation of dorms that can house 70 residents at a time. The living areas now include LED lights, updated ceiling tiles and grids in portions, fresh paint, floors that have been resealed and clothing hooks that add storage.
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“After providing services for the homeless in this building for 30 years, a new HVAC system and updates to the dorms were quite necessary. We are grateful to Bristol Township for providing the funding for these projects, and our residents and team at the shelter are working in a more comfortable, safe environment as a result,” said Audrey J. Tucker, CEO of Family Service Association of Bucks County.
Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen said the community is throwing their support behind the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter and ending homelessness.
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The 24-hour Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter is a temporary residence for homeless people and families. On any given day, about 70 people reside at the shelter that offers on-site counseling, job search resources, health evaluation and case management.
Officials at the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter said 317 people were helped at the facility last year and 125 of those aided were children.
For more information, call the Bucks County Housing Link at 1-800-810-4434 or visit www.fsabc.org/shelter.
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