MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary in Milwaukee is launching a construction project aimed at expanding services for its community.

The building near 25th and Center is adding a staircase tower to make the property fully accessible and code compliant. The project will give the sanctuary full use of all five floors, including plans for an aquaponics growing system on the third floor.

The new tower will feature colored lights to signal messages such as warming shelter nights.

Sister MacCanon Brown, president and CEO of the sanctuary, said the work represents a major step forward.

"We have a building no storms can shake, we have a community no storms can shake, and within this community, we have lives who are becoming strong enough that no storm can shake," Brown said.

The $500,000 project is funded by a federal community project grant secured by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore. Construction partners are contributing by working at minimal fees or at no cost.

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