Montgomery County authorize a lease agreement during a Dec. 19, 2024 council meeting for a new “short term supportive housing facility” on Main Street in Lansdale. (MediaNews Group)
Ceremonial proceedings will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday
Montgomery County officials will move forward with plans to open a supportive short-term housing concept as they break ground on a new facility in Lansdale.
Ceremonial proceedings will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 24, at 1107 E. Main St. The construction development comes months after signing a lease on the Lansdale property to open the 20-bed center operated by the Philadelphia-based Resources for Human Development.
Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder stressed that “housing stability and security” remain a “top priority” for the administration that’s been faced with rising rates of homelessness in a county without a major operational shelter for nearly three years.
“This is a critical step in our efforts as a county to combat homelessness in Montgomery County,” Winder said.
Montgomery County allocated financing for the initiative in the 2025 budget, also approved Thursday, designating $1.3 million for operational costs as well as a $2 million investment from the 2025 portion of the Montgomery County Capital Improvement Program. The initiative followed negotiations between the county, Lansdale borough and RHD as officials underscored the need for strong government and community support.
“We know that they’re all deeply invested in doing the work that our community needs and I want to applaud them for having the courage to stand up and help our vulnerable friends and neighbors,” Winder said.
Local officials estimated around 30 people experiencing homelessness in Lansdale as of December 2024, and Lansdale Borough Council President Marry Fuller anticipated the new shelter will “address 50 to 75 percent of the known unhoused population.”
The facility will include single and double occupancy rooms providing space for up to 20 individuals at a given time. Bathrooms, showers and laundry, and a community space will allow staff to provide “housing-focused case management services” to single adults ages 18 years and older in the Lansdale and North Penn region, according to Christina Jordan, Resource for Human Development’s Montgomery County Homeless Services program director.
Additional services are expected to span the gamut, including food, mental and behavioral health, employment training, gaining access to benefits, and veterans services.
“Homelessness is a complex public health problem, and it really can happen to anyone. We also know that our communities are strongest when all of their members are getting their basic needs met,” Jordan said during a December county commissioners meeting.
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