HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — First Stop is celebrating the grand opening of a new facility in downtown Huntsville on Thursday. The nonprofit offers support and services to those facing homelessness, empowering them toward an independent, sustainable future.
The new 8,000-square-foot facility on Stokes St. features multiple conference rooms, enrichment classes, a computer lab and more.
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While at the old building, mealtimes time could only accommodate about 60 people, but the staff’s capacity to serve breakfast and lunch has increased.
“Now we can easily seat 80,” said Chairman Tim Davis. “If we need to expand to 100 or maybe 120, we can just serve more people.”
First Stop Executive Director Jennifer Geist told News 19 the new facility will help the program provide more resources for even more people in need.
“We have more space for dining, and we have a classroom now that we can offer our life skill classes in,” Geist said. “We’ve got partner offices now, so we can provide medical care and mental health treatment inside. We just didn’t have room to do all of that before, and this is such a critical part of helping someone get out of homelessness.”