Greensboro’s Servant Center has acquired the Holden Heights building at 1915 Boulevard St., which will be used to house the city’s first medical respite center meant to support veterans and the homeless.

City of Greensboro funding for the acquisition of Holden Heights will total $1.5 million – $450,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds as well as $1,050,000 in federal Community Development Grant money.

The four-story, 37,000-square-foot facility will expand significantly the Servant Center’s efforts to battle homelessness and help veterans.

Shanna Reece, the Center’s executive director, said this is a very big move for the organization.

“This acquisition marks a transformative moment for the Servant Center,” Reece stated in a Tuesday, July 23 press release sent out by the city. “With Holden Heights, we are prepared to elevate our efforts and further our commitment to providing critical support to veterans and homeless individuals in our community.”

The cities of Greensboro and High Point, along with Guilford County government, have begun multiple initiatives in an attempt to get people off the streets and provide services for the homeless. The discussion has come to a head recently in downtown Greensboro where multiple business owners and downtown residents have expressed a huge degree of dismay over the disruptions the homeless problem has created for their businesses and living environment.

This new program is one of many meant to attack the persistent problem from a variety of angles.

The new project will feature 22 dedicated beds in 11 rooms for respite care recovery from illness or injury and 21 single-occupancy rooms for veterans transitioning out of homelessness.

The program aims to address the existing gap between local health services and social services.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to addressing these challenges head-on,” said Cynthia Blue, the assistant director of housing and strategy with the City of Greensboro Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. “The acquisition of Holden Heights reaffirms Greensboro’s dedication to delivering innovative solutions that prioritize compassion and dignity for our community’s most vulnerable members.”