AIDS Alabama, a nonprofit organization, recently broke ground on its Way Station Housing project at 650 Third Ave, in Birmingham. This project is intended to provide a housing program for homeless, runaway, and youth between the ages 18 to 24. The property will function as an emergency, overnight, crisis stabilization shelter and transitional housing program for the homeless.
Way Station Housing Project Design
According to the development team, the Way Station Housing project is designed to include various programs which include Basic Shelter Programs: featuring temporary housing, with 20 bed spaces and crisis intervention services for young people; Transitional Housing programs: which will provide longer-term housing for as long as two years, with 20 beds spaces and several supportive services such as enrollment into Birmingham City Schools or GED prep/education, empowerment courses on finance, job and housing readiness, internships, and health care; finally, the project will also include an AIDS Alabama Rapid Re-Housing program: which assists youths who are ready, with securing permanent housing.
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Caroline Bundy, AIDS Alabama’s Director of Development was excited about the Way Station Housing project and he pointed out that presently, there is no other shelter like the Way station, which has been uniquely designed to meet the needs of the at-risk youth. Bundy also stated that the goal of this project was to provide a care plan for every youth coming their way and he was hopeful that the program would eliminate barriers that lead most youths to the streets. He spoke on supporting the youth through schooling, education, financial empowerment and anything else which would ensure their successful transition into adulthood. Bundy added, “Our aim is to heal trauma and give them the love and the skills they need to lead rewarding lives.”
Other companies involved in the Way Station Housing Project include Stewart Perry, as the general contractor; Joseph McClure Commercial Real Estate, in charge of overseeing the project management; and Hendon + Huckestein Architects PC, serving as architect. Construction work on this project is expected to begin by November and is scheduled for completion sometime in June 2022.
