There will be about 50 fewer beds at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission this winter.
The facility is under reconstruction.
On a special walking tour of the project that is underway as of Monday, President Rolf Geyling said his administrative offices are among the areas vacated by the staff to put in beds for women.
The facility is in dire need of repairs due to aging plumbing and electrical infrastructure that could have resulted in a full shutdown.
The fundraising for the work is still about $3 million short of its goal, but the project has begun and will take about 16 months to complete.
As part of the work, there will also be a new chapel and a kitchen, to serve over 100,000 meals a year.