Gary Mayor Eddie Melton has shown his dedication to the city’s resurgence throughout his leadership. As Gary progresses by eliminating blight and attracting new businesses, Melton emphasized on Friday the importance of caring for the city’s most vulnerable populations.
During a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Brothers’ Keeper men’s shelter in Gary on August 7, 2026, Men’s Shelter Director Isaac Mootye addressed attendees. “Expanding our services to serve our homeless population is very critical,” Melton stated, highlighting the significance of the event in front of the shelter’s ongoing construction.
The new $3 million Brothers’ Keeper shelter, situated in the 2100 block of Washington Street, is partially funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and Community Development Block Grant funds. Melton mentioned that the decision to allocate remaining ARPA funds to the shelter was made last year. To meet Community Development Block Grant requirements, the shelter must be operational by the end of October.
Mary Edwards, former director of Brothers’ Keeper, attended the ceremony, observing the progress of the new facility targeted at homeless men and veterans. Featuring two stories, the shelter will include dormitory-style housing, counseling offices, and multi-purpose community areas. The upcoming facility will provide 50 shelter beds, compared to the 25 at the current location, 2120 Broadway. Additionally, the community garden near the existing shelter will be relocated to the new site, as previously mentioned by Melton.
City spokesman Steve Segura described Friday as the celebration of a new chapter and a call to action for the community. By likening the partnership between Brothers’ Keeper and Gary to steelmaking, he stressed their strength in collaboration. “A single beam of steel is strong on its own,” Segura noted, “but when those beams are intertwined or bolted together, they form a framework that sustains even massive structures.”
Executive Director Isaac Mootye expressed deep emotions during the ceremony, extending gratitude towards the city’s support for the new shelter. “I’m beyond happy, very emotional,” Mootye remarked, “This dream is becoming a reality.”
Gary Common Council President Linda Barnes Caldwell, D-5th, also voiced her pride in the city and Brothers’ Keeper officials. She described the event as a groundbreaking for hope, healing, and new opportunities. Construction workers initiated the foundation for the facility during the ceremony. “This project embodies our collective belief in dignity, safety, opportunity, and rebuilding lives,” Barnes Caldwell stated. “This building represents more than its physical presence. It stands for compassion and the commitment to a stronger Gary. Today, as we break ground, we are not only establishing a physical foundation but paving the way for restored lives, renewed hope, and promising futures.”