Community leaders celebrated the opening of a new homeless shelter in San Luis Obispo on Monday.
40 Prado opened its doors to the homeless beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.
The shelter will combine the services that were provided through the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter and the Prado Day Center.
"They say home is where the heart is, and when you look around, you see how much heart the city of San Luis Obispo has," said San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon.
New homeless shelter at 40 Prado Road in San Luis Obispo (KSBY photo)
The new facility spans 20,000 square feet and is divided into activities for the day and night. The building includes dormitory housing for up to 70 men, 34 women, and family sleeping rooms for up to 36 people. The facility also includes recuperative care areas for up to 10 people. Nighttime services are already available, and staff hope to be fully operational by mid-October.
The project cost $5.4 million to construct. Construction started in November 2016.
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO) will operate the shelter, which is designed to also provide services throughout the day, including laundry, counseling, and access to community resources.
"They say communities can be judged by how they treat their most vulnerable, and certainly today reflects the character of the SLO community," said Congressman Salud Carbajal. (D-CA 24)
