Two new facilities are slated for construction at a campus-area homeless shelter, which will provide the homeless population with expanded shelter by adding new long-term housing units for the mentally ill.

According to a statement from Porchlight, their Safe Haven facility is intended to help homeless people affected by mental illness and drug or alcohol addictions take their first step toward recovery. Porchlight helps clients receive mental health services, assists people in job searches and offers facilities for sobriety support groups.

In 2008, Madison’s homeless population was at its highest level since 2000, with the largest increase in families with children, according to Porchlight’s website. Additionally, it said more than 3,300 people were turned away from shelters in the city because of lack of space.

Steven Schooler, executive director at Porchlight, said the $4 million project would add necessary long-term housing for the city.

“This will also provide 34 units of long-term permanent housing,” Schooler said. “It will be a total of 48 units that will be complete and constructed by the end of the year.”

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said Porchlight in particular is a “great neighborhood partner” and the mission and services they provide for the homeless as well as mentally ill people is very helpful to getting the homeless back on their feet.

Resnick also said he thought this was a great service and to see this being provided next to campus is an amazing phenomenon.

“The Safe Haven itself provides 24-hour assistance to the mentally ill, and this will be a place where one can seek refuge,” he said.

According to Resnick, the issue of homelessness in the community has been weighed by city officials. Resnick believes by having the facility available for night shelter it could service the entire community in Madison.

Between State Street and other areas downtown, there have been some issues with the mentally ill, Resnick said. However, he said he believes by having this resource close by, this will be a strong program tMadison and Porchlight can provide.

“It’s really expanding on existing services,” Resnick said. “Porchlight has a number of programs that they facilitate out of their building. So when you can have those in a centralized location, and luckily for Madison we can put that in a location that is close by the bus stops and close …  to State Street and the Capitol.”

City Council President Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, said she is very happy to have another living situation available in Madison for people to have a safe, suitable and stable place to live.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Porchlight will be held on April 17.