By Brandon Peoples
Staff photo by Lewis Marien
A major renovation project underway at the Be Able Community Center is nearing the finish line.
The nonprofit community organization, at 431 S. Fifth St., acquired three nearby properties at Fifth and Yuma in January 2024, which are being transformed into supportive housing for people facing homelessness.
“Between those three properties there are nine units and 15 bedrooms,” said Jarad Garren, operations director for Be Able.
Garren said the need for supportive housing will vary depending on an individual’s circumstances.
“There are going to be some people that just kind of need a boost and just need to get off the street and in employment, and it’s going to take them probably just three months to get on their feet and into a typical year long lease,” he said. “There’s others that need a little more help. They need to get healthy, first mentally and then into jobs and on their own. That may take up to 18 months.”
The project is being managed by Frontier Property Development free of charge to the organization. Garren said a grant from the Caroline Peine Foundation is supporting the cost of materials and labor.
The project should be completed in the next few weeks.
“We’re currently in the process of getting it painted, getting the floors sanded and stained, the last of the fixtures installed, lighting and just all the odds and ends,” he said.
The center is currently accepting donations to furnish the supportive housing and is in need of refrigerators, microwaves, couches and twin mattresses.
In addition to the housing project, Garren said Be Able has received a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade security at the community center.
“That includes safer windows, controlled access doors, a video camera system and extra lighting on the outside of our building,” he said.
Be Able Community was founded in 2020 and currently serves over 1,000 individuals annually in the Manhattan area.
