The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

The Community Foundation announces property gift to create a new Day Center for people experiencing homelessness

The Community Foundation announces property gift to create a new Day Center for people experiencing homelessness in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro today announced the generous gift of real estate proposed for the much-needed new Day Center for people experiencing homelessness in the Greensboro area.

The family of Richard Strasser gave to The Community Foundation the building they owned at 407 E. Washington St. The site was the longtime home of the family’s business, Southern Plate & Window Glass Co., which relocated last year.

In making the gift, the Strassers specified their desire that it be used for a Day Center for people experiencing homelessness in the Greensboro area.

“I want to thank the Strassers for entrusting this property to The Community Foundation,” said H. Walker Sanders, Foundation president. “But more importantly, I want to convey our appreciation to them for doing so with such a worthy cause in mind. Their generosity will give so many people a chance to rebuild their lives and start anew. I can’t think of a more meaningful gift to the people of Guilford County.”

The Day Center would provide a refuge to homeless residents – a place where they can  receive counseling, use a computer to look for jobs or even take a shower. An interim facility known as the Interactive Resource Center opened in early January in space provided by Bessemer United Methodist Church on East Bessemer Avenue.

According to the terms of the gift, the Day Center Task Force has until June 30, 2010, to complete a business plan satisfactory to the Strassers and the board of The Community Foundation Real Estate Management Fund. This plan must detail:

• What modifications will be needed for the property to operate as a Day Center;
• What entity will operate the Day Center;
• How the center will be operated on a day-to-day basis, including what services will be provided to the homeless population of Greensboro and the surrounding area; and
• How sufficient funding for construction and operations will be obtained.

If the business plan is agreed upon by all parties, the property will be leased for a nominal yearly fee to the nonprofit entity operating the center. The lease will be renewable annually for 15 years. If the Day Center is continuously operated during the entire 15 years, then full title to the property will be conveyed to the nonprofit entity operating the center.  Greensboro’s City Council has allocated funds to help with the operating costs for the facility.

“Homelessness in our community is a significant issue,” said the Rev. Willis Johnson, co-chair of the Day Center Task Force. “I am so pleased to see that a real solution is finally taking shape.”

In the 2007 Homeless Point in Time count, there were more than 1,200 people experiencing homelessness in Guilford County, according to Partners Ending Homelessness.

Partners Ending Homelessness is an initiative that focuses on actively implementing, evaluating and updating Guilford County’s 10-Year Plan to end chronic homelessness. A leading partner in pursuing the creation of a Day Center in Greensboro, Partners Ending Homelessness focuses on generating housing, strengthening prevention and supportive service efforts and increasing coordination and access through the continuum of care in our community.  Council Member T. Dianne Bellamy-Small was also active in bringing this issue to the forefront in the community and in local government planning.

“Ending chronic homelessness by 2016 and reducing all types of homelessness is vital to our community’s health and continued growth,” said Bob Newton, co-chair of the Day Center Task Force.

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