Open Door Ministries of High Point is exploring the feasibility of establishing a day center for the homeless in the city of High Point.
The planning effort—a collaborative initiative being led by High Point Councilmember Cyril Jefferson – would entail Open Door Ministries working with other partners in the community.
This week some city leaders expressed a need for a homeless center in Guilford County’s second largest city.
Open Door Ministries is a non-profit that was established to prevent hunger and homelessness through “advocacy, education, housing and coordination of services.” The organization was established in 1995 by a merger of Urban Ministries and the Open Door Shelter.
Joe Blankinship, the chair of the Board of Directors of Open Door Ministries, said this idea is one whose time has come.
“A day center in High Point has been talked about for many years and would be a transformational blessing to the members of our community experiencing homelessness,” he said. “We are excited about this new opportunity, and will be looking closely at the details of any plans to make sure we serve High Point as best as we can.”
The opening of a day center for the homeless would take a phased approach. The first phase includes researching existing day centers with successful business models and looking at best practices.
So, where would the money come from?
Backers point out that funding for the initiative is earmarked in the High Point City Council’s 2021 Strategic Plan – though that has yet to be approved by the City Council. It will be voted on the last day of June and there has been a favorable recommendation from City Council’s Community Development subcommittee.
Ryan Ross, executive director of Open Door Ministries, said this week that the organization is “thrilled about the opportunity to further support our neighbors experiencing homelessness.” He added, “We are blessed by the progress this project has made with community stakeholders.”
Cue the music
I have a novel idea. Why doesn’t the city council take a homeless person into their own homes. Charity begins at home, not at city hall.
We can start with Name Star’s place…
You both are so quick to volunteer someone else’s home. Start with your own, I’ll take care of mine.
What I think you meant to say, Miller and Bryan, was something along the lines of “I would never allow a homeless person in my home.”
You know nothing of my living situation or life (and likely very little about our elected officials’ lives either), so it’s curious you’d have such a strong opinion of how we should live our lives.
What are YOU doing to help your community? You can answer, or let us otherwise assume – nothing.
you know how to spell “assume”?
just because you disagree with someone, doesn’t mean you can prove your point by being ugly about it
What was ugly?
Let’s break down that word, assume.
Better yet, let’s wonder in amazement that liberals keep coming in droves to read an unabashedly conservative paper and then complain about the point of view presented by the author and his/her readers. Only in America!
You seem to be criticizing how someone else is using their gun given freedom.
The day center sounds great and everything, but isn’t a place to sleep equally, if not more important???
All views should entertained. Otherwise, none will.