Fire stations across the state are being left abandoned as fire departments shrink and consolidate. Now a man hopes to transform one of those vacant stations in Flint into a homeless shelter.
John Bone says he's transforming an eye sore into a place where up to 100 people in need can find a bed and a shower.
Bone was unemployed this November when his aunt gave him the dilapidated fire station on King Avenue. She'd purchased the station several years back.
Bone says he knows some families experiencing homelessness, and he wanted them to have a better place to stay than a friend's couch.
"The only thing I really seen that would bring good out of the building anymore was just turn it into a shelter," he said.
Bone estimates getting the building up to code will take $10,000.
Bone says he knows some families experiencing homelessness, and he wanted them to have a better place to stay than a friend's couch.
He estimates it will cost about 10 thousand dollars to get the building up to code.
"A lot of people was like, 'you know, it's gonna be a lot of hard work,' but I'm used to working hard, and so it'll be like another challenge for me," he said.
Bone says he's receiving financial support from his aunt, and friends and volunteers are pitching in to help with plumbing, electrical work and renovations.
He says he hopes to open the shelter next summer.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio Newsroom
