East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) College of Nursing broke ground on a new Day Center in Johnson City, Tenn. The College of Nursing has been providing healthcare and other services to the homeless population in the region for more than 25 years, and at the Day Center facility since 2005.

ETSU’s College of Nursing Family Practice Network received a $1 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to construct a new building to house its Johnson City Day Center.

The new, 4,365 square-foot facility, is being built on the same property as the existing Day Center. It will feature updated resources and medical equipment, allowing for the expansion of medical, behavioral and social health services for the homeless.

Through the project, ETSU officials expect to see a 150 percent increase in the number of individuals who are served by the Day Center, with availability of individual patient resources increasing by more than 400 percent.