GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Guilford County is taking next steps towards opening what it calls the county's first long-term recovery center.
Come December, the county will open up bids for contractors to make necessary renovations at a site that used to be a nursing home. The site is located at 1411 Lee's Chapel Rd. in Greensboro.
Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Skip Alston explained the effort is a part of the county's plan to combat homelessness. Hundreds of people are experiencing homelessness in the county right now. Alston said many of them are also battling addiction. He hopes this center will help people get to the root of the problem.
"Once they come here, they will be assigned a case worker. They will be able to work with them on a daily basis to solve their drug problem, take care of their mental health status, then give them job opportunities, showing them how to get an apartment, how to get a job. We're going to work with some of the corporations too to be able to hire the people. Once they go through this long-term treatment center. They'll be then self-sustaining," exclaimed Alston.
Alston recalled these plans being in the works for about a year now. He said the county bought the facility for $3.4. million, another $5 million will go into renovations. If all goes as planned, the center could open next September.
Across the street from the future center sits houses, neighborhoods, and a school. People who live nearby have mixed reactions about the center. Many hope it will help connect people to needed resources, yet there are concerns for safety.
Edna Honeycutt lives in the area, she welcomes the center as she's experienced a success story of her own, with her son and daughter-in-law.
"He quit doing drugs, he's gained a lot of weight, now he's a supervisor for PF Plumbing. So, he went from nothing, up to a supervisor, it can be done. Now his wife works for, I don't know the name of her company, but it's a heating and air conditioning company and she's doing very well in her job also. So, you can go from nothing to something," said Honeycutt.
Piedmont Classical High School is beside the future center. A spokesperson for the school said they have met with county officials to discuss future plans for the center. During conversations, the school said the county assured it would not impact safety or disrupt their learning environment.
Alston said a third-party, Daymark Recovery Services will operate the facility at Lee's Chapel Road once it is finished. He said there are also plans to open up a facility for women and children.