Butler County's home for homeless adults will be doubling in size, thanks to a pair of government grants.

Awards totaling $493,686 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $400,000 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development will be used to expand Deshon Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless adult men and women.

Deshon Place, an apartment complex with 10 units, is off New Castle Road on the Butler Township campus of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The complex opened in 2001 in a renovated VA medical center building.

The addition, which will be known as Deshon II, will consist of 10 studio apartments adjoining the existing building.

Eligible homeless adults will receive up to two years of temporary housing with supportive services provided by the Butler office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The aim of the program is to help people overcome the problems that result in homelessness, such as job loss, health problems or insufficient life skills. The facility is for veterans and nonveterans.

Janine Kennedy, the county's community action director, applauded the expansion project. "It's wonderful to see this money coming to Butler County to a program that's so needed,'' she said. In its former life, the Deshon Place building was a VA nurses dormitory that was renovated to include a computer room, lounge and laundry room in addition to the studio apartments.

Dave Virag, a spokesman for the VA, said officials hope construction of the addition will begin this year.