A coalition is developing plans for raising $7 million to build a homeless shelter in downtown New Orleans.
The group is led by the Downtown Development District.
Kurt Weigle, president and CEO of the Downtown Development District, tells NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune (http://bit.ly/1GNWMmf ) that the project will centralize the homeless population for outreach workers and offer mental health and addiction services.
Weigle said a so-called “low-barrier” shelter will have fewer rules to stay there – such as being sober or having an ID – to encourage more people, especially the mentally ill and chronically homeless, to walk in and access services.
Weigle says the vision for New Orleans has five main elements: an outdoor shelter, mental health crisis beds, a sobering unit, inpatient detox treatment and medical triage.
