PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) – Opening Doors Northwest Florida and Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola have cut the ribbon on the first phase of a new pallet shelter village aimed at moving people off the streets and into stable housing.
What the first phase includes
Phase one of the New Horizons Village brings 14 small, individual shelters and a large hygiene trailer equipped with showers and bathrooms.
Outreach teams with Opening Doors will identify people sleeping in tents, cars or on the street, prequalify them and refer them to move in.
How the program works
Each shelter is designed to last about 10 years, but most residents are expected to stay approximately 90 days as they work with case managers on what organizers call a “continuum of care” — moving from crisis to permanent, stable housing.
“Many of these people, they want to be able to prosper. They just need some help and direction, and that’s part of what this program provides, is all of that,” a representative said…