Why Cumberland County commissioners are excited about a new homeless support center
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An architectural firm tasked with designing a two-story, $15 million resource center and homeless shelter in Cumberland County was unanimously approved last week by the county Board of Commissioners.
In a document provided to potential contractors in the bidding process, the county said its two-story Homeless Support Center will be between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet on roughly 7.18 acres.
“The Center will be used to provide temporary shelter and supportive services to homeless individuals to include single adults and families with children,” the document states.
Brian Haney, a spokesperson for the county, said via email Tuesday that the 7.18 acres is likely more space than the project will actually need and is an initial estimate that will be refined later in the process. The site is located off Hawley Lane near B Street, he said.
Haney said that though initial estimates for the project are $15 million, that number is "incredibly preliminary" and the county would only have a total projected cost once a design for the center is complete.
The county received $1 million from the state through a State Capital Infrastructure Fund grant for the center and is investigating potentially using American Rescue Plan Act funding and Community Development Block Grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, he said.
"There is also the potential to fund this from the County's Capital Investment Fund as a pay-go project (without debt issuance)," Haney said. "A final decision on the funding source has not been made at this time as we continue to explore options — though there is funding available for this project."
Commissioner Veronica Jones said Monday that she is pleased with the project thus far.
“I’m definitely liking the progress and the information that we’re bringing back,” she said. “I’m excited.”
The county hopes to complete the building within one to two years, Commissioner Glenn Adams said Monday.
“We’re going to move fast, hopefully,” he said.
The center is part of a partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College, which will provide vocational classes on-site to any Cumberland County residents interested regardless of their housing status, Adams said.
“I think it’s going to be transformative,” he said. “That’s what excites me is that we’re not going to just give you something — we’re going to give you something that hopefully changes your life.”
The city of Fayetteville recently opened a day resource center for the homeless on King Street last month, but there are currently no plans for the city to build overnight shelters.
Here’s everything you need to know about the county's new center.
What will it include?
According to documents provided by the county to potential contractors, tentative plans call for the second floor to provide housing for women and families with children and a community room. Capacities for the shelter areas have not been determined yet, according to Haney.
Here's what is slated for the first floor:
A sleeping area for single adult men.
A community room.
A commercial kitchen.
Offices.
A reception area with security.
A conference room.
Bathrooms with showers.
A laundry room.
Jones said Monday that after attending a local town hall on pregnant and nursing women's needs, she also plans to request a lactation area be included in the site design — a request she hopes to suggest for all county buildings.
Adams said the center will have case managers available to help people obtain identification. The county also plans to reach out to Cape Fear Valley Health about ways they could be involved with the center, he said.
Who will design it?
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the county staff’s recommended architect, the Wilmington office of LS3P, a national firm that has designed more than 25 similar centers.
Jermaine Walker, the county’s director of engineering and infrastructure, said Thursday that the firm’s Wilmington office would be handling the project.
“LS3P came across as deeply involved in the process,” Walker said. “They have extensive experience in programming and design.”
Walker noted that LS3P's project manager experienced homelessness as a child, which brings a more personal touch to their approach.
“They wanted to humanize the project,” he said.
Walker said the firm proposed creating a space for people to connect with nature and offering peer support groups at the center.
“The one thing that they focused on was the experience of the client,” he said.
Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Commissioner Adams both said they were happy with Walker's presentation Thursday.
"I am very impressed," Stewart said.
Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County to get new homeless support center
