At the Interactive Resource Center, a nonprofit day facility designed to assist Greensboro’s homeless population, clients can seek housing counseling, job skills training and get a warm shower or a meal. But the IRC also boasts a sculpture garden, a newspaper and other creative projects that get their clients involved in the community and give them opportunities to share their experience with others. Author Lorraine Ahearn, who covered the Triad’s homeless as the metro columnist for the Greensboro News & Record for years, talks with The State of Things host Frank Stasio about the self-help model the IRC operates under and how the center is truly making a difference in that region of the state. Also joining the conversation is Liz Seymour, IRC director, and Brain Clarey, editor of YES! Weekly in Greensboro. Listen to the recording of …
The Rocky Mount Telegram Geoffrey Cooper November 4, 2010 Officials throughout the Twin Counties have stepped forward to embrace the growing homeless population in the area. Both Nash and Edgecombe counties Board of Commissioners unanimously approved proclamations at their recent monthly meetings designating November as Homeless Awareness Month for the region. The unified decree from commissioners contain steps officials say they hope will bring a sense of urgency and community involvement. United Community Ministries Executive Director Chris Battle addressed both boards on the current growth of area homelessness — which he dubbed as the “invisible population” — and how it has blossomed beyond shelter walls. Battle — who has served with the local ministry for 10 years — said that his nonprofit has identified more than 500 homeless individuals in the Twin Counties. More than 625 …
New Bern Sun Journal Sue Book October 22, 2010 TRENT WOODS — The problem of homelessness may seem a long way from small-town, rural North Carolina. But, in a point-in-time statewide count on Jan. 26, 2010, New Bern Police counted 12 people sleeping on the streets here and the only homeless shelter in four counties filled to capacity with 20 heads on beds. Homelessness is here. About 110 people from counties across Eastern North Carolina gathered in New Bern on Thursday for a Homelessness Summit hosted at Garber United Methodist Church by groups including Religious Community Services (RCS), East Carolina Council, Craven County Habitat for Humanity, the City of New Bern, and Neuse River Community Development Corporation. Area agencies are attempting to deal with homelessness daily, looking for roofs for real people — often with children …
Temporary shelter for 50 women at the Center of Hope still needs $22,000 to remain open to Nov. 30. Asheville Citizen-Times Mark Price September 27, 2010 The Center of Hope's new overflow shelter on East Fifth Street has taken in its first 25 homeless women and expects to reach capacity in the next two weeks, as more new cots arrive. Salvation Army officials have so far raised $55,000 for the 50-bed project, which is designed to ease overcrowding at the center's regular, 250-bed shelter for women and children. But they remain $22,000 short of what's necessary to keep it operating through Nov. 30, when the Urban Ministry Center opens its winter shelter program, Room in the Inn. As it stands now, there is a three-week shortage, said Deronda Metz, director of the Center of Hope …
The HUD Training Institute was held in Greensboro on May 27 and 28, 2009. Speakers at the Institute presented information on new programs, best practice models, and pressing issues facing homeless consumers today in North Carolina. Presentations are added as we receive them. Please click here to view presentations and materials from the workshops.
On April 2, 2009, LaKasha Fredlaw of Wake Co. Human Services provided a training for caseworkers on life skills and money management. Presentations and Handouts: "Money Matters" PowerPoint presentation: view pdf "To Your Credit" PowerPoint presentation: view pdf "Ready to Rent" PowerPoint presentation: view pdf Life Skills Budget Sheet: view Excel doc Monthly Expenses (Budgeted vs. Actual) Worksheet: view pdf NAEH's Step-by-Step Guide to Better Life Management: view pdf Other Information: FDIC: Money Smart Education Program website Casey Life Skills website Ready to Rent - address inquiries to: Ready to Rent c/o Say That!, LLC 16055 SW Walker Rd. #444 Beaverton, OR 97006 503-891-0476 info@readytorent.org
People in Greensboro, N.C. could tell early on it was going to be a hard winter for the city's homeless population. With the recession and the housing crisis, the city's shelters and overflow spaces were already full - and this winter promised to be a cold one. Alice Bolton heard about that and began to wonder - why couldn't she put some of those people up in her church? She soon learned other churches and a community center were wondering the same thing. Dick Gordon of The Story talks with Alice about how she convinced Pleasant Garden Baptist Church to set out cots in the fellowship hall and welcome about 20 homeless men. He also talks with Ron Clark, one of the men who found a home and a second chance there. Listen to the interview on The …
By RUTH SHEEHAN The News & Observer of Raleigh Posted: Dec. 27, 2008 RALEIGH, N.C. — The three nondescript cars pulled into a parking lot across from Moore Square. Before the teenagers inside clicked open their seatbelts, dozens of homeless men and women scurried over. By the time the high school and college students opened their doors, they were completely surrounded, causing the teenagers to beam. This is what they come for. Every single Sunday for the last three years, this small group of young adult volunteers, along with N.C. State adviser Anita Flick, has served bag lunches to a growing group of homeless people. Rain, shine, no matter. "You hear so much about young people who are abscesses on our culture," said Kay Fish, whose son helps with the project regularly. "There are so many who quietly do so …
By Fred Clasen-Kelly frkelly@charlotteobserver.com Posted: Saturday, Jan. 03, 2009 Tom Duncan took the day off work, but faced a menacing job: Clean and paint a vacant apartment infested with cockroaches and covered in dust. Duncan was among roughly 200 volunteers Friday helping convert an idle 12-story uptown building into a temporary homeless shelter. “We will do what we can,” he said after pointing to food the former tenant left in the refrigerator. Volunteers spent hours repairing, painting and cleaning to prepare the Hall House for homeless women and their children. They will continue working from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Social agencies are trying to reduce a shortage of homeless shelter beds in Charlotte. More than 5,000 people in Charlotte-Mecklenburg are homeless on a given night, but there are less than 2,000 shelter beds. Officials were overwhelmed Friday by …
Noel Edwards was homeless and staying at Good Shepherd Center when Sharron Cain found her. Shameeka Winfield was struggling with the effects of having a criminal record, the result of a mistake she made years ago. Both will graduate Friday from the fall classes of Project Uplift Career Pathways Academy, a training program for adults of low to moderate incomes. It’s operated by the Countywide Community Development Corp., which serves Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Columbus counties. Both have landed good jobs, Edwards at AME Zion Housing Development Corp. and Winfield at Family Perspectives LLC. They are among about 30 graduates of Project Uplift classes. One morning last week, Edwards and Winfield were in the office administration class at the Hillcrest Recreation Center off Dawson Street. About 15 women were working at computer terminals under the tutelage of Carmenitha Berry, …