The la crosse salvation army will be able to take in more families at its emergency shelter.

It's all possible thanks to some renovations to the building.

News 8's jordan fremstad takes us inside the shelter to show what the upgrades will do for people who need a place to stay.

Salvation army officials say they have had to turn families away in the past because of a lack of rooms at the current shelter.

They say the building helps these people during a stressful time in their life....these upgrades will be able to help more people who are looking for a break.

What if you woke up one day and the place you called home was gone?

"it can happen to anybody."

There are a lot of things that exist in a morning routine that we often take for granted that would be a struggle without a home.

"a lot of people are living pay check to pay check and are just one mishap away from calling the salvation army home."

"they didn't see it happening."

(nats) the salvation army is a place for people to catch their breath...when life happens.

"it's not anything that they did wrong.

It's just circumstances."

Loretta lapoint has been with the salvation army for the past five months....and she provides a smile (nats) for people dealing with homelessness.

(nats) "you do meet people from a wide range of different backgrounds.

Right now the organization is going through a little office move.

"what we are in right now will be the secure entry way something we have never had."

The organizatio n's new offices and security measures will help make day to day life easier for staff.

But the project's purpose is to offer a roof for more people and families.

"we saw this as an opportunity to make sure we are not turning away people who need somewhere to go."

Something director of development nick ragner said they had to do last year.

"we turned away 41 families because we didn't have the space for them."

The nearly 400,000 dollars came from a portion of the salvation army's budget....money that is often gifted from people's estates.

"people leaving legacy gifts to leave a lasting impression or impact on an organization they highly believe in."

It's donations and neighbors carrying for neighbors that help bring light to someone else's darkness.

"it's pretty remarkable."

It's a resource that many people think they will never use....but it's here...and it might.... save your life.

"it's not always that someone's not trying or that they don't want to try.

Life happens."

The new construction also includes security cameras to help keep the place safe for every who stays at the salvation army.

Officials say their goal in 2019 is to not turn away a single person who needs help.

Thanks jordan.

Officials at the salvation army say this is the first renovation of the emergency shelter since 1990.

They will have an official ribbon cutting