Arlington, Va. — The Arlington County Board has approved a permit to open a year-round homeless shelter in the Courthouse neighborhood.

The board unanimously approved the overnight shelter Saturday in the high-rent neighborhood. It will include 50 permanent beds, five beds for medical cases and 25 additional beds for the winter.

The Homeless Services Center is expected to open in 2014. It will occupy two floors of a county-owned building. The center will offer support services, a dining area and program space.

When the board voted in November to spend $27 million on the building, a neighboring condominium objected, saying the shelter would pose a threat to safety.

County Board Chairman Walter Tejada says Arlington has long needed a year-round homeless shelter. He says the goal is to help everyone find permanent housing.

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