A proposed day resource center that will provide support services to the homeless is expected to open in 2023, the Fayetteville City Council was told this week.
The City Council received an update on the proposed center and activities related to the homeless during its Monday work session.
Chris Cauley, director of the city’s Economic and Community Development Department, gave the presentation.
Over the past few years, the City Council has authorized a number of initiatives to reduce homelessness in the community. They have included the purchase of a building at 128 S. King St. to serve as “a one-stop-shop” – a community resource hub – for the homeless.
This proposed day resource center is in the design stage but is expected to open in 2023, Cauley said.
Funding for the project has been provided by the Community Development Block Grant -- Disaster Recovery through the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency and the state of North Carolina through the State Capital Infrastructure Fund-directed grant program, the city said.
The city reinvigorated the Joint City/County Homeless Advisory Committee and reaffirmed its $100,000 commitment to continuing a partnership with Cumberland County.
And last month, the city – in partnership with Manna Church – reopened the former HOPE Center on Person Street as the Manna Dream Center men’s shelter.
Cauley called the collaboration between the city and Manna Church a “winning partnership.”
“We went from a sporadically-operated facility to a professional staff-run facility,” he told council members. “Imagine what the Dream Center can accomplish …”
Councilman Larry Wright said he wanted to comment on the advances the city has made on homelessness.
“I think we’re at an import now where we can see how we’re improving the lives of the homeless,” he said.
Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin gave out kudos to her colleagues on the council for helping the homeless – an issue that she has said is near and dear to her heart.
Downtown parking
Also Monday, Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram voiced her disapproval of having residents and visitors pay for downtown parking in the evenings. She said there should be no paid parking after 5 p.m., except for such paid-event parking as attending a downtown baseball game at Segra Stadium.
The Downtown Alliance has a petition asking the City Council to stop paid parking enforcement after 5 p.m. and to minimize events that trigger paid parking enforcement on weekends.
“We need to be in line with other comparable communities,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “I believe it (the parking ordinance) should be tweaked. … I’m personally OK with seeing how we see it, but there are impacts.”
Colvin said he would like to see city staff compile research on the downtown parking issue and bring it back to the City Council for review and possible action.
Michael Futch covers Fayetteville and education for CityView TODAY. He can be reached at mfutch@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
