GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan says the city will never get rid of the Interactive Resource Center and will stick with funding the center.
It’s a facility that has been overwhelmed while providing services to the city’s homeless population. But what does the city have to offer the homeless outside the IRC?
“We are working with the Continuum of Care which is … being overseen by the county … The Urban Ministry. I’m a little frustrated with both. Not all of their beds are filled,” Vaughan said.
Meanwhile, IRC chairman Jim King says the center barely has any space to offer. King says the center has served more than 8,500 people over the past 12 months, which is a 67% increase from the previous 12 months.
And because of this, King says the organization’s had issues ranging from excess garbage to some of its neighbors expressing concern about drug deals in the area.
So the IRC requested $588,000 from the city for additional help and resources to keep its day and night services operational.
During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, the city offered a contract worth $300,000. FOX8 asked King for more specifics on exactly what the taxpayer money will pay for.
“Almost a large majority of our budget is going to direct services. Virtually none of it is going to our overhead. We are hoping to add more staff … so this staff would be proportionate with their salary and would be funded by taxpayers,” King said.
In addition, King hopes to hire a security team, which is something the mayor and city council members have asked IRC leaders to consider.
“We do want to be a good neighbor and make a good space for everybody and safe space for everyone,” King said.
Vaughan has given King and the IRC until July 23 to submit a thorough spending plan. King says if the city’s final funding figure isn’t close to the 588,000 the IRC wants, it may have to dial back overnight services as soon as Monday.
“People can’t sleep there, but at least they can get out of the heat and come inside and get a break,” King said.
“If they decide to discontinue the drop-in program, there will be an opportunity for them to reach out to the city and all the other partners because everybody is going to have to step up,” Vaughan said.
King said the IRC is being funded by the grants provided by the state and county. FOX8 also asked him for a detailed itemized budget but has not received it yet.
The board of directors will have a meeting Thursday night to decide the future of the night and day drop-in program.
Vaughan says the city will have a work session on July 25 to talk about allocating more funds to the center.
