People’s City Mission announces $12-15 million addition in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The People’s City Mission secured land for a multimillion-dollar expansion on Friday.

Pastor Tom Barber, the CEO, said the mission purchased the entire block to the south of the current building.

It will be a temporary housing project with 100 family units.

The addition will cost $12 million to $15 million, Barber said.

“So we’re going to have to start raising that,” he said.

It’s a project that’s been years in the making near First and P streets.

Barber said Lincoln is far behind where it should be in terms of available housing for the homeless.

“Lincoln doesn’t have as much shelter space as we need, and we’ve been trying to figure out how to change that,” he said.

With the land, the shelter will double its square footage and will be able to house around 700 people total.

The existing building will be used primarily as a men’s shelter.

The new building will have classrooms, a gymnasium and playground, all geared toward families.

The mission plans to fence it in for security.

Barber said when the purchase was announced at the mission, everyone applauded.

“They know that this is an important thing,” he said. “When you stay at a place like a homeless shelter, you’re not sure what it’s going to be like, and it’s kind of nervous and scary.”

He said having a “dignified place to stay that’s nice” is really important for people who need shelter.

Barber said the next step is to find an architect to plan the building.

The current tenants on the property won’t leave until August, so the mission will begin construction in 2025.

The goal is to finish the new family housing by summer 2026.