‘Friends In Crisis Shelter’ Subject of Community Meeting

The Killeen Community is eager to find a solution to the problem facing the city's homeless population. Brandon Hamilton with News 10 reports The Friends in Crisis shelter was the subject of a Monday night meeting at the Killeen Community Center during which the public shared ideas on fundraising, job efforts, and donations for the homeless community.

The Friends in Crisis shelter closed its doors in May of this year, and since then, a tent city has gone up on the lawn of the property. Homeless people with no place else to go have put up tents to stay out of the summer heat and the heavy downpours during recent storms.

Food donations are an area of concern for the shelter as coming up with a donation schedule was part of the discussion Monday evening to try to cut down on waste. Anyone interested in dropping off food to the homeless should visit the "Helping the Homeless" facebook group.

Other discussions as part of the meeting included opening up a temporary shelter that could house the homeless during daytime hours. Funding seems to be preventing this from happening so far. Workforce Solutions of Central Texas was also on hand Monday evening to talk about job opportunities for the homeless.

The Friends in Crisis Shelter needs $180,000 dollars to reopen its doors. So far the shelter has raised more than $70,000. Any Grant funding they might receive wouldn't arrive until October 1st. Leaders of the shelter have asked the City of Killeen to help with financial assistance.