Day Resource Center to Combat Homelessness Opens in Fayetteville, NC

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – On Monday, Aug 21, 2023, a brand-new Day Resource Center opened at 128 S. King St. in downtown Fayetteville, marking a pivotal step in its ongoing effort to assist the homeless community.

This development is a key component of Fayetteville’s 10-year plan to tackle homelessness. Funding for the $6.99 million project comes from a mix of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery, the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, the American Rescue Plan Act, and State Capital Infrastructure Grants.

Visitors to the facility will find an large lobby area, seating for lunch is accommodates 193 individuals for meals prepared by Manna Church. The new center is designed to meet a multitude of needs. There are showers, each complete with a sink, toilet, and complimentary hygiene products. For those requiring laundry services, the center offers a dedicated laundry room, with the last load ending at 2:30 pm. Other amenities include a family room, a meditation space tailored to provide a peaceful retreat, and an outdoor bike rack. The center also features a phone charging station equipped with secure combination lock boxes for belongings.

Under the leadership of Dr. Leanne Scalli, employed by Cumberland HealthNET, the Day Resource Center has formed alliances with multiple community organizations. This collaboration brings together entities like CommuniCare, Cumberland Health Net, and the Marius Maximus Foundation under one roof, ensuring a more cohesive approach to service provision. Additional office spaces, conference rooms, and private offices are available for case workers from the Cumberland County Dept. of Social Services and other future partners.

As all these features are extremely beneficial, there are some expressions of concern. Many activists have criticized the city and county who both have issued anti-camping laws to deter sleeping openly on public property. The laws are allegedly to prevent safety or health issues, while activist and homeless residents expressed the laws seemingly want them to move out the sight of the general public. The concerns arise after homeless residents were moved from the downtown Fayetteville area while the local area does not have many accommodating shelters in place. A sleepout protest, preceding the facility’s opening, highlighting those broader challenges associated with homelessness in Fayetteville. Currently, facilities like the Salvation Army of the Sandhills offer only 54 beds, and the Manna Dream Center, with 20 beds, caters solely to men.

However, in further developments, a planned 150-bed transitional housing facility is planned a half-mile from this Day Resource Center. The former Knights Inn is aimed to become fully renovated with transitional housing and on-site services.

The Day Resource Center hopes to build a comprehensive support system from local organizations and agencies. Beyond those efforts, community involvement is essential. To make lasting change, local residents are encouraged to support non-profits, engage in outreach, volunteer their time, and donate resources, all pivotal actions in the mission to address homelessness and uplift those in need.

Written by Kres Thomas, FayToday News
contact: kresthomas@faytoday.com