KILLEEN, TX — After receiving three separate federal grants, Friends in Crisis homeless shelter will stay open for a year.
Friends in Crisis Vice President Larry Moehnke said the shelter has grants totaling $330,290.
"With continued community support, we are moving forward with expectations of a successful year of providing services for the homeless," said Moehnke.
In July, the homeless shelter reopened after raising $165,000. Due to a lack of funding, the shelter closed back in May.
A motion to reopen Friends In Crisis homeless shelter passed earlier in July, allowing the shelter to reopen by Aug. 9. They were able to quickly raise the funds, bringing their opening date up to Friday, July 26.
The shelter was cleared and cleaned for sanitation on July 15, and reopened its doors July 26 at 3 p.m.
Friends In Crisis, which hosts more than 75 people a night, was forced to temporarily shut down for the first time on May 14. The facility first opened in 2015.
Since closing its doors, the shelter has allowed people to sleep outside of the building.
"They don't care who you are, where you're from, what mistakes you have made in your life, all they want to do is help you," said Allen Kimble, who has been staying outside the location.
The Director of Programs Suzanne Armour said it takes an estimated $1,000 a day to run the shelter, averaging $30,000 a month, all of which comes from donations.
Since the tent city formed, many groups have been active to support the homeless. Mercedes Wesley facilitates and distributes donations through a Facebook page called " Together we are stronger."
