MELBOURNE, Fla. — The shutdown of nonprofit Daily Bread in Melbourne is moving at a quicker pace.

The facility must close by May 9, but leadership says the organization's mission to serve the homeless in the community isn’t stopping.

Each Thursday, people are working to help members of their community at Coastline Community Church in Indian Harbour Beach.

Dozens of homeless individuals line up to get supplies and showers.

Raymond Lucas is a peer support and recovery specialist at Daily Bread. He says the nonprofit is not just a job for him, it’s a purpose.

“The clients, of course, I call them my people," he said. "I was once in their shoes, so I get the program."

Lucas was homeless and battling substance abuse, but five years ago, he got help from the Daily Bread.

Now he’s on the other side.

“We do it now as a team, so I really like it,” he said.

The nonprofit has agreed with the city of Melbourne to close its doors. It will shut down its soup kitchen, day shelter operation and outreach center.

The decision was made after numerous complaints from residents who said they feel unsafe outside their homes, especially in the surrounding neighborhood. 

The shift now is focusing on affordable long-term housing. The project is called Providence Place — a 3-acre site with 119 units on Apollo Boulevard.

Daily Bread has been negotiating with the city for months to pay for it with a $3 million grant.

On Tuesday, the city council voted unanimously in favor of the plan.

“It is happening more quickly than we expected it to, but we have been preparing for this, and ready to shift our model to a mobile outreach model," said Daily Bread Executive Director Jeff Njus. "To meet people who are homeless where they are, to come up with their homeless solution."

Njus said he’s grateful for the city and community’s support. Additionally, their mobile outreach will provide meals at churches with a new food truck. He says it’s more than just something to eat.

“Not just a meal, but a sense of community,” Njus said.

Lucas said he is sad that Daily Bread is closing, but also excited about the new mission.

“Moving forward, we want to house them, get them indoors, and rehabilitate any issues they may be having,” Lucas said.

Groundbreaking on Providence Place is set for this fall. Construction is expected to last a year-and-a-half, and the new project would open sometime in 2027.