Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and other key partners including the Erie United Methodist Alliance cut the ribbon Wednesday on the Community Resilience Center, a new concept for the vacant prison pre-release center.

Then county officials took supporters and community leaders for a tour inside. 

The building will now serve as the single site for the Our Neighbors' Place overflow shelter operated in local churches for the last 13 years.

Kurt Crays, Executive Director of EUMA said the central location provided by the county will simplify access for those experiencing homelessness and for the church volunteers who want to offer them a warm meal and a place to stay on cold winter nights.  "You know the logistics behind just one move and we were doing that every single two week period of time, so now we have a single site location where guests can come and get a bed, shower, food and a pathway to permanent housing," Crays said.

But will this place known for offering an overnight bed move people toward permanent housing, something that multiple Erie organizations are working toward?  Crays believes it will.  "We know that the Community Resilience Center and Our Neighbors Place embedded in it is going to help identify individuals, assess them for need, and then refer them for permanent housing intervention that will best suit their needs," Crays said.

County Executive Brenton Davis said his vision for the facility and what it will offer those without a place to call home, is even bigger, with plans for wrap around services. "Partnerships with the health systems, partnerships with mental health, drug and alcohol services," Davis said, "and this isn't just homelessness it's individuals that need access to that health care that maybe haven't been able to find a doorway. They should be able to show up to this building, have social workers and all kinds of organizations on hand, so I mean really this is a no wrong doors approach," he added.

And as of Wednesday night, the doors are open.  First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant volunteers will be the first of 15 area churches hosting the shelter in its new location.