The first family shelter in St. Lucie County will be built next year at GraceWay Village, Inc. in Fort Pierce, initially giving 10 families the opportunity to work their way toward self-sufficiency.
Located at 1780 Hartman Road, GraceWay Village will construct the facility in three phases. Phase 1 will be a 10,150-square-foot structure that includes 10 private family units, classrooms, communal areas, laundry and administrative offices. Social workers, a facility manager and 24/7 monitors will be needed for the facility.
The nonprofit was awarded $2.97 million last month by the county through the Home American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP), a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program. The fund was created in 2021 to assist individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
St. Lucie County did research to determine local priorities for the money and it was decided that the “development of a non-congregate shelter” was a top priority for the HOME-ARP funds.
They issued a Request for Proposals in July 2024 “seeking qualified nonprofit partners for the development and operation of the shelter,” and the one proposal received was from GraceWay Village. The money is not coming from county funds.
The plan to build the shelter was in the works for years, and other nonprofits knew that GraceWay was well into their preparations for the shelter.
“You got to share your mission and your vision,” said GraceWay CEO Chrystal Netherton. “I think it was more like a great opportunity to come together. Let GraceWay Village be the sole proposal.”
GraceWay also received an additional $1 million thanks to an application for a state appropriation. “I always try to search every angle. As a nonprofit you’re always seeking funding to keep your programs going,” Netherton said.
Asked how the families will be chosen, Netherton said, “We have wonderful partnerships with other nonprofits that I’m sure will filter them to us. We want to best serve the clients. They have an agreement that they have to sign and have to state their expectations in that agreement. It’s not necessarily us picking them; it’s them picking us.”
Families will be permitted to stay at the facility for up to 18 months. “It’s very individual when it comes to the case plan,” Netherton said, explaining that some families may just need a boost and a short stay while others may need the entire time.
Either way, after the first 90 days residents will have to save 10 percent of their income toward future housing and they will have to pay a $250 monthly fee to stay on the premises.
The families will also be required to take classes, for example, on how to handle finances, and much more.
“It’s really all designed to propel them to self-sufficiency,” Netherton said.
The first families will hopefully be able to move in during the first half of 2027.
The process of finalizing designs for the shelter is currently underway. “We estimate that will take us six to eight months,” Netherton said. They are hoping to break ground in the first half of 2026.
Phase 2 of the project will include cottage units for clients to move into from the family shelter, if they so choose. The program fee will be higher, but it will be less than market rate for living quarters.
According to Netherton, the cottages are considered to be more like a “stepping stone.”
“What I really want is for them to graduate into homeownership,” Netherton said, citing possibilities like Habitat for Humanity homes. According to Netherton, eight homes were constructed in St. Lucie County last year and six are scheduled this year.
Phase 3 will include the addition of eight to 10 more family units like those in Phase 1.
“It’s going to improve the society as a whole here. That’s where I get fired up and excited to think about the ripple effect it’s going to have,” Netherton said. “I need the community to come alongside this and see the vision. The first three years we’re going to rely heavily on our grants and donors.
“The beginning of GraceWay Village was 2009. This is really a 16-year dream,” said Netherton, who exudes passion for the cause.
The organization’s mission is to feed the hungry; provide clothing to children from low-income families, from infancy to 18 years of age; and conduct workshops created to improve lives and productivity.
GraceWay has been providing over 11,000 meals a month, with upwards of 650 meals being served per night four times a week. “Families are not able to make ends meet,” said Netherton. “Us as a society, we need to be aware of it. Everybody is in crisis mode.”
Meals are given out for dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. And the clothing boutique is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers and donations are always needed. For more information, visit gracewayvillage.com.