The Tri-City Union Gospel Mission’s new, nearly 40,000-square-foot men’s facility in downtown Pasco is due to open before the end of the year.

As the Columbia Basin’s only homeless shelter, the mission serves as a safety net for some of the most vulnerable people in the community, providing alcohol recovery programs, case management, vocational training and education, and transitional housing.

The new men’s facility, adjacent to the Thunderbird Motel, consists of a single-story building with brick veneer, housing sleeping quarters to accommodate up to 162 men.

Four 28-man rescue dorms, five five-man rooms, five two-man rooms and 15 one-man rooms comprise the sleeping quarters, with enough bathroom and shower facilities to support visitor needs at full capacity.

A commercial kitchen and dining room, chapel with seating for up to 200, medical office and exam room, commercial laundry facility, case management offices, classrooms and a computer lab round out the facilities.

The new shelter replaces the aging, crowded men’s facility on North Second Avenue.

The total cost of the project, including land, was about $9.2 million.

Siefken and Sons Construction of Richland was the general contractor.

Archibald & Co. Architects of Richland was the architect.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Nov. 16.

For more information about Tri-City Union Gospel Mission’s services, visit tcugm.org or call 509-547-2112 ext. 0.