New Orleans officials announce construction of low-barrier shelter
 

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As New Orleans prepares to implement a freeze plan that demands the city's four homeless shelters open their doors to anyone on the streets,*officials announced construction of a low-barrier shelter at the former Veterans Affairs hospital on Gravier Street, where a gutted second floor on a chilly Tuesday afternoon held promise of connecting people experiencing homelessness to an array of services to help them get on their feet.

The 12,000-square-feet, 24-hour shelter will offer 100 beds with little to no barrier for entry, including no admission fees or sobriety tests required for entry.*People entering the shelter can also access mental health and substance abuse services, as well as living spaces and office spaces.

Construction and implementation is supported by*block grant funding, the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund (NHIF), the Downtown Development District (DDD), the Louisiana Housing Corporation and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.*The New Orleans City Council approved $1 million for its construction in 2016, which the DDD matched. The city's annual costs*are expected to be $750,000.

Officials said the shelter will be open and services will be online in April.
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