The Life Navigation Center, an American Rescue Plan Act-funded “one-stop shop” for those experiencing homelessness in Bowling Green, is set to open on Aug. 22 at one of The Salvation Army’s buildings on West Main Avenue.

The center will combine services from Room In The Inn, LifeSkills Inc. and the Salvation Army Bowling Green Corps under one roof, something LifeSkills Community Engagement Director Melanie Watts said will help those needing assistance access resources more efficiently.

“One of our main goals was not to have people go in 50 million directions for housing (and) mental health,” Watts said.

Services provided by the center will feature showers, laundry facilities and immediate housing, along with case management services, which will include mental health assistance, drug rehabilitation, job training and placement and legal aid.

The center was given the go-ahead in December 2022 after the Bowling Green City Commission unanimously approved the spending of $4 million of ARPA funding on the center.

Two million dollars went to renovating the building the center would operate in, and the other half went to Neighborhood and Community Services to use for partnerships in building affordable housing.

Watts said in addition to the nonprofits, other organizations are invited to “pull up a chair” and provide services. She said having many services in a centralized location will help cut down on travel time for those in need.

“If you’re without shelter and without a vehicle, how are you to get all the way (to) therapy services or to see a doctor or to get your license or to get benefits,” she said. “It’s not all within walking distance.”

Services can be accessed by appointment, although walk-ins will be accepted as well. Monica Horton, captain of the Salvation Army Bowling Green Corps, said visitors will work with case managers to “dive deeper” into what specific services they are in need of.

“A lot of people are in the situation they’re in because they don’t really know where to go to get the help or where the next step could be,” Horton said.

Horton described the cooperation among these nonprofits as a “collaborative effort,” and said working together is essential for serving populations effectively.

“No one agency can be all things to all people,” she said. “It takes this collaborative effort to really serve our people.”