Butte is one step closer to having permanent supportive housing for those in need.
Located somewhere in Uptown Butte will be an apartment complex made for those who are homeless, suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.
The complex will serve as a sort of intervention space. It will have 10 to 20 individual rooms and be close to services like St. James Healthcare.
Karen Byrnes, community development director for Butte-Silver Bow, said that those that stay there will be watched by different services, pay some rent while practicing to be good homeowners.
"It’s different from transitional housing or shelter type situation for folks because it’s actually apartments that are totally self-contained that have service wrapped around them to ensure that the people are stable and can live in their own home." Byrnes said.
For anyone worrying about the project, Byrnes said that the housing is secure and safe.
"There will be services provided to that building so it’s not something that is completely open and a free-for-all, if you will, right? So this is much more structured; even though it is individual apartments, it’s much more structured than that." Byrnes said.
The project is in its construction phase, as they are evaluating where the complex will go, whether a new building will have to be made or use an already existing building. Brynes said they are hoping to break ground in 2021.
