Nonprofit organization The Bridge Home held a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, showcasing the construction of 18 family housing units to serve individuals and families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness.

The Bridge Home has served members of the Ames community and surrounding area for 35 years with a mission to bridge the gap between homelessness and housing by providing shelter and support to those experiencing homelessness.

The construction and development of these units was possible in part due to the National Housing Trust Fund Grant from the Iowa Finance Authority, funding $4.16 million toward the project.

The groundbreaking included remarks from Jodi Stumbo, president and CEO of The Bridge Home, and Debi Durham, the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority.

“We have witnessed firsthand the transformational power of providing homes to those in need, and the addition of these 18 new units will extend the reach of this life saving transformative work that this great organization does,” Durham said. “We eagerly anticipate the stories of individuals who with the right support will shatter the barriers before them achieve remarkable success through this project.”

In the last year, The Bridge Home has served over 3,740 people and provided 13,900 nights of shelter, according to the organization’s website.

“This building will have 18 affordable rental units, and they will be affordable housing units,” Stumbo said. “But it goes way beyond that. It’s a symbol of hope for a family who struggled to make ends meet. It is a message from our communities. We do see you, you are not voiceless. And we are here to help you. This is the first step.”

To learn more about The Bridge Home, visit TheBridgeHome.org.