The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Committee to Address Homelessness met Monday, May 15, 2023 at 4 p.m. in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse to receive an update from staff regarding the County’s planned Homeless Support Center.

Heather Skeens, Assistant County Manager for Community Support, provided the project update. She said a potential site has been identified and staff are completing the required due diligence prior to announcing the selected site publicly.

To date, the County has completed Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, a topographic survey and geotechnical analysis, all of which came back clean. Skeens said staff have also ordered appraisals for property the County is seeking to acquire.

Because the County will seek funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the project, there are requirements related to that request that the County is currently working through.

According to a release from the County, Skeens said staff are preparing to release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit an architectural firm to develop the final program for the facility. She anticipates the RFQ being released within the next week and staff bringing a recommendation to the Committee in August following the Board’s July recess. Skeens said the architect will help narrow in on the number of congregate vs. non-congregate beds, as well as what additional resources should be provided, which will factor into the design of the building.

Board of Commissioners and Committee Chairwoman Dr. Toni Stewart said she is excited to see progress being made on the Homeless Support Center and stressed that she wants the project to continue moving forward as quickly as possible.

“We know we need programs, but we want to make sure we don’t miss what we know we really need – beds,” she said in a press release . “Hopefully we will have something we can add onto and do a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 … so that we can go ahead and start providing beds.”

Skeens also provided an update on the Robbins Meadow Affordable Housing Project. Due to the high cost of providing permanent supportive housing, she said staff have shifted their focus to affordable housing. Staff are working on a site layout and anticipate locating between 8 and 10 homes on the property. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Civil Design will be released in the coming weeks, and Skeens said staff hopes to bring a recommendation back to the Committee in August for this as well.

“We recognize that eight homes do not come close to solving the affordable housing crisis we’re experiencing, but at least it’s a start,” said Skeens.

The Committee went into closed session to discuss Real Property Acquisition pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5).

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Committee to Address Homelessness is comprised of Chairwoman Stewart, and commissioners Veronica Jones and Michael Boose.