The Kitchen to break ground on shelter expansion

Last edited 3:44 p.m., Dec. 30, 2024 [Editor's note: More information has been added.]

The Kitchen Inc. is set to break ground next month on an expansion to the emergency shelter at its Chestnut Expressway and Glenstone Avenue campus.

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled Jan. 10 at 1855 E. Chestnut Expressway for what officials with the nonprofit are calling "Emergency Shelter 2.0." The project would add 12 units, bringing the total to 25.

“This expansion addresses Springfield's urgent need for temporary housing solutions, offering a supportive environment for families and individuals as they transition to permanent housing,” said Meleah Spencer, CEO of The Kitchen, in the release.

The Kitchen is working with the following companies on the project: Ireland Architects Inc.; Heithaus Engineering & Associates Inc; Interpres Building Solutions LLC; Killian Construction Co.; and RTM Engineering Consultants LLC. The release also credits the city of Springfield and the Missouri Department of Economic Development through the American Rescue Plan Act.

In addition to the new units, the plans include a half-court basketball court.

The cost is roughly $5.4 million for the 11,125-square-foot project, said Jason Edward Grife, director of development for The Kitchen. It's slated for completion by the end of 2025, he said.

The original shelter project had a cost of $2.25 million, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in November 2018, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

The Kitchen's emergency shelter program is a 90-day initiative that provides temporary shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.