The Fayetteville City Council is scheduled to receive an update on the city’s homeless activities and the planned day resource center during its work session Monday.
In other business, council members are expected to get an update on the proposed city-sponsored Juneteenth Celebration.
The meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. in the FAST Transit building on Franklin Street.
Over the past few years, the council has authorized what the city calls "some transformational initiatives" in hopes of reducing homelessness in the Fayetteville community.
Those initiatives include the purchase of an underutilized facility for a homeless day resource center at 128 S. King St., which has been designated to provide “a community resource hub for persons experiencing homelessness.”
The center remains in the design stage, the city said.
Construction bids are expected to be released after the council’s approval of additional state funding, which would allow for enhanced services and equipment at the center, information in the agenda package states.
Upon award of a construction contract, city staff estimates it will take approximately a year to complete work on the building.
“The center will be brought online in the spring of 2023,” according to information in the agenda package.
To date, funding has been provided by the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery through the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, and the state of North Carolina through the State Capital Infrastructure Fund-directed grant program.
Last month, through a partnership with Manna Church, the city officially opened the Manna Dream Center men’s shelter on Person Street with a ribbon-cutting. The shelter has been open since December.
As of Feb. 28, 19 men were staying temporarily at the Person Street facility. For overnight guests, the Dream Center can accommodate up to 20 people.
Likewise, the agenda states of homeless initiatives, the city reinvigorated the Joint City/County Homeless Advisory Committee and reaffirmed its $100,000 commitment to continuing its partnership with the county.
Juneteenth Celebration
On Feb. 7, the president and CEO of the Cool Spring Downtown District unveiled an initial concept for the proposed multi-day Juneteenth Celebration in Fayetteville. This planned tie-in between the Cool Spring Downtown District and the city would mark a first collaboration to celebrate the federal holiday.
Following the success of the Cool Spring Downtown District New Year’s Eve celebration in Festival Park, CEO Bianca Shoneman proposed a similar type of major event for Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the abolishment of slavery in the United States.
Council members who opposed some of the initial plans did express approval of holding what they would consider a more appropriate Juneteenth celebration with the area’s African American community in mind.
Shoneman is expected to present a retooled vision of the event Monday night.
In other business, Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram is expected to bring up requests for proposed changes to downtown parking. The Downtown Alliance has a petition asking the City Council to stop paid parking enforcement after 5 p.m. and to minimize events that trigger paid parking enforcement on weekends. Another request proposes changing paid parking during the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Michael Futch covers Fayetteville and education for CityView TODAY. He can be reached at mfutch@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
