LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A groundbreaking celebrated a project years in the making, one that will address Lexington’s homeless Veteran population.

The Hope Center broke ground on a $6.2 million transitional and veterans housing project. The facility will have 72 beds, with 24 of them specifically for veterans that will provide transitional housing and services. Rufus Friday is the executive director of the Hope Center.

“The vision for adding this transitional and veterans housing project has been several years in the making for us. We’ve been serving the community through the emergency shelter and permanent housing, but there are not enough transitional housing opportunities in the community to meet the need,” Friday said.

In addition to Friday, several speakers came to celebrate this big step, like Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.

“This program is another option for Kentuckians to get to the treatment that will ultimately benefit them and everyone around them. The Hope Center is part of a larger recovery Kentucky system, which works at the state level to help Kentuckians with substance abuse and homelessness, which are often intertwined,” Coleman said.

The services will include case management to help clients gain the skills they need, recovery, job skills, and mental health counseling.

“We’ll have the room to move clients into more suitable housing on their path to self-sufficiency. We’ll be able to support clients who primarily need a stepping stone to restabilize in order to return to our community,” Friday said.

Construction is expected to be completed in the summer 2024.