More families need homeless shelters. This county is providing them. [Video]

LORAIN, OHIO — Lorain County is nearly tripling its emergency shelter space for families. This week, Neighborhood Alliance completed an expansion at the Haven Center in Lorain.

The nonprofit unveiled 19 new rooms in the Ben and Jane Norton Center addition. 11 of the rooms are dedicated to families experiencing homelessness.

“When you’re in the middle of a crisis, you need your support people, particularly for the children. Being homeless can be very scary for them, it’s a very traumatic experience,” said Alicia Foss, Neighborhood Alliance President and CEO.

She noted a growing need for emergency shelter, particularly for families.

Neighborhood Alliance operates the county’s only 24-hour, 365-day emergency shelter with space for men, families, single women and adult couples.

The older wing of Haven Center currently offers four family-specific rooms. The new facility will include private bathrooms and be able to accommodate parents with children, couples and large blended …