Transitional Housing Proposal

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We are asking folks who live and work in Robeson County to endorse our proposed supportive housing program by signing this petition. Let our elected officials know that our community can only get better by supporting people trying to break the vicious cycle of homelessness. 

https://www.change.org/p/bring-supportive-housing-to-robeson-county?source_location=search

Robeson County is facing a rapidly increasing and unprecedented number of people struggling to find safe, affordable, and available housing. Even with substantive income and availability, obtaining housing and navigating independent living can be a high barrier for people that may struggle with literacy, medication management, visible and invisible disabilities, lack of proper nutrition, lack of accessible jobs and transportation, and a lack of documentation to start the process.

The Robeson County Church & Community Center is proposing a supportive housing development on our site, 600 W. 5th Street in Lumberton, to address all of these problems and take the weight of meeting basic needs off of individuals while they work on themselves and the barriers they may face to independent living and productive lives. 

The location will be securely staffed 24/7 by employees and professionals trained in a variety of case management and counseling techniques. There will also be a robust network of outside providers and referrals to deal with issues like mental health assessments and therapy, medication management, substance use disorders, criminal records and expunctions, and obtaining documentation, eligible benefits, and employment. We will have transportation available to ensure individuals can timely make medical appointments and maintain employment. All food and hygiene items will be provided, along with clothing vouchers from our Home Store. We will have on-site laundry facilities, a full kitchen, and eventually, a community garden for all of our neighbors to enjoy together. We anticipate the first phase of this program will last between three and six months for most clients. 

Thus-far, we have over three dozen signed commitment forms from unsheltered residents of Robeson County who would like to participate in this program, and we have received verbal commitments from at least 14 more.