OPELOUSAS, La (KLFY) – The Opelousas Lighthouse Mission broke ground on a new facility Friday morning.

The mission is adding on a 64-bed dorm to meet the needs of area homeless men.

Homelessness is up across Acadiana, and because of it, the mission has been at capacity for sometime.

“Over the last 3 years, we’ve only been able to house around 50% of the people that applied to our program, and so it really kind of weighed heavy on our hearts that we’re having to turn people away,” said Opelousas Lighthouse Mission Executive Director, Johnny Carriere.

Carriere says the organization serves all of Acadiana–with more than half of their residents coming from the Lafayette area, so Carriere says there’s a great need for more space.

“Right now we have 32 beds on this campus and then we have a 5-bed transitional house, and then once this building is complete our campus will have right at 70 beds,” explained Carriere. “This project is around three quarter of a million dollars.”

Steven Barnes, a former mission resident, says the mission is more than deserving of the much needed facility.

Barnes says he is most appreciative of the mission putting a roof over his head after he fell on hard times.

“I made it a home and there was a very tight fellowship, men loved on me when I didn’t feel very much lovable,” said Barnes.

Barnes credits the mission for his current success and encourages all homeless men to not lose hope.

Carriere says they expect the new dorm to be completed in about seven months.