County Breaks Ground for Homeless Support Center
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners broke ground for the planned Homeless Support Center in a ceremony Monday afternoon, Feb. 19, at the site located at 344 Hawley Lane, beside the FTCC Education Center (former Pauline Jones Elementary School). Commissioners were joined by County management and staff, State and local leaders, community partners and other advocates for the County’s homeless population.
The Homeless Support Center will provide much-needed shelter for County residents experiencing homelessness, as well as access to programs and resources that will assist in achieving sustainable housing and life enrichment. The County’s intent is for the facility to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and to provide residents with access to resources well beyond those of a traditional homeless shelter.
“This project has involved nearly every department in Cumberland County and pulled on the expertise of community partners and advocates across the state,” said Glenn Adams, Chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
Adams thanked the partner organizations who plan to participate in the project, including Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) and Cape Fear Valley Hospital. FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells was in attendance and gave remarks related to FTCC’s partnership on the project. Adams also thanked those who assisted in allowing the Homeless Support Center to be constructed on the selected site, including the Cumberland County Board of Education, which provided a portion of the property that will be used for the site, and the Fayetteville City Council, which unanimously approved a rezoning request and special use permit for the property.
Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Dr. Toni Stewart, who made addressing Homelessness one of the top priorities of her term as Chairwoman last year, said the groundbreaking ceremony was just the first step in a much larger effort to address the needs of the “least of these” in Cumberland County.
“When I was elected to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, I made it known that I was an emphatic supporter of seeking solutions to address homelessness in Cumberland County,” said Stewart. “I have been an advocate for the homeless in our midst and I will continue to push for more resources for this group of people who are often forgotten, misunderstood and marginalized.”
For more information about the Homeless Support Center, visit the County’s website at cumberlancountync.gov.
Turning dirt to break ground on the planned Homeless Support Center, from left, are Cumberland County Manager Clarence Grier, Cumberland County Community Development Director Delores Taylor, County Engineering & Infrastructure Director Jermaine Walker, Social Services Director Brenda Reid Jackson, Board of Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart, Chairman Glenn Adams, Commissioners Michael Boose, Jeannette Council and Jimmy Keefe and Assistant County Manager for Community Support Heather Skeens.