New 50-Bed Homeless Shelter Breaks Ground In Norristown

NORRISTOWN, PA — A new 50-bed homeless shelter broke ground in Norristown this week as Montgomery County continues to expand its supporting housing network.

The 24-hour, year-round facility will be reserved for "single adults with the greatest risk of severe health and safety consequences," as the county's Your Way Home entry system determines.

The shelter will be located in the DeKalb Center on E. Fornance Street.

Norristown alone has more than 100 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, officials say. Local officials worked with the county to bring the shelter to fruition.

“Here in Norristown, we see the impact of housing instability every day,” Norristown Council President Rashaad Bates said. “Norristown stepped up to be part of the countywide solution, along with Lansdale and Pottstown. This kind of coordination isn't always easy, but it was 100% necessary."

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Homelessness rates have risen around the country and in Montgomery County since 2020, with inflation and the rising cost of basic necessities like food and healthcare continuing to skyrocket. Affordable housing is just piece of the picture.

But the county has put significant resources into addressing the crisis, with new shelters opening since 2022 in Lansdale and Pottstown. This will be the third.

“This is a facility where we're providing all the necessary services to help these individuals because they deserve it, they need it, and we want them to feel valued,” Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello said in a statement.

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The new facility will provide social support including career readiness, financial training, mental health counseling, and assistance with substance abuse. The county is partnering with the nonprofit Resources for Human Development on the project.

Officials hope construction on the project is completed by the end of 2026.