MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The Urban Cat Coalition celebrated a major milestone Saturday with the opening of its first permanent home in Milwaukee.

The organization held a celebration at its new brick-and-mortar location near North 28th Street and West Clybourn Street, a project that has been about three years in the making.

The new space will serve as a community hub for foster cats, supplies and the organization's trap-neuter-return efforts.

Urban Cat Coalition leaders say having a permanent location will allow the organization to operate more efficiently and expand its impact across Milwaukee.

"It's huge," Urban Cat Coalition Director Sarah Otto said. "We've been suffering in storage lockers. Every winter we're out there getting supplies to people, freezing, and now we'll have an actual space where we can meet and have all of our materials."

The organization plans to add permanent staffing as it settles into the new building.

Urban Cat Coalition also hopes to eventually house adoptable cats on site, creating another way for community members to connect with the organization and the animals it serves.