Having received a gift from philanthropist Joel Smilow, The Open Door Shelter in Norwalk will transform a factory building at 2 Merritt Place in South Norwalk into a multipurpose center. Ground breaking will take place on Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
The project will include 16 efficiency apartments for individuals needing supportive housing, a health center which will provide for community medical needs, and a job training program to support skilled trades education, job search tools, and GED and college entrance classes.
“We are honored to receive this funding to support this project and as a result name the building the Smilow SoNo Life Center,” said Jeannette Archer-Simons, executive director of The Open Door Shelter. “We are deeply touched by Mr. Smilow”™s belief in our efforts. We hope this gift inspires others to support this transformative project as we finalize funding for this campaign.”
“As soon as I learned about this project, I knew it was something that needed sufficient support to insure its timely completion,” Smilow said. “I”™m delighted to be the agent for change for this wonderful expansion of the work of The Open Door Shelter.”
The organization will publicly launch an $8 million capital campaign to fund the Center and additional family housing in the region at Cesco”™s Trattoria at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. Construction on the $6 million Center will also begin this month.
