United Churches of Elizabethtown Area (UCEA) has announced a significant development in its ongoing efforts to support housing programs for individuals and families in need. UCEA, an organization that provides rental space for nonprofit organizations serving the Elizabethtown community, has undertaken a renovation project with the support of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The project involves transforming a building on the Community Place on Washington (CPOW) campus, a property managed by UCEA. The building has been renovated to create four new apartments, effectively doubling its housing capacity. This development represents an expansion of Bridge House 90, a crisis housing program of Elizabethtown Community Housing & Outreach Services (ECHOS), and will allow an anticipated four households to have access to a transitional housing space where they can focus on securing permanent housing in the greater Elizabethtown area without the threat of homelessness.

ECHOS, one of the nonprofit social service agencies leasing space from UCEA at CPOW, provides essential programs and services for community members in the northwest region of Lancaster County who may be at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

To support this renovation project, UCEA has set a fundraising goal of $120,000. The funds raised, including those from UCEA's participation in the ExtraGive campaign on Nov. 17, will be applied to cover the additional costs associated with the renovation.

To get involved or learn more about UCEA's initiatives, visit https://communityplaceetown.org/.