GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Interactive Resource Center (IRC) is expanding. The first phase of its daytime services will change to a 24/7 operation. Staff said it is to better address issues of homelessness in the community.
"This expansion of services is a response to an unmet, basic need,” said Michelle Kennedy, director of the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. “A 24/7 drop-in center is critical safe space for people experiencing homelessness and needing a respite from freezing cold, oppressive heat, and nights on the street.”
The program provides people, who are experiencing homelessness, with services in one location.
It will provide a safe space for people to go, especially when the temperatures are cold or excessively hot. This eliminates the temperature requirements for emergency shelters because it is open 24 hours a day.
This also allows access to restrooms, showers, laundry services, storage lockers, and phones during evening and overnight hours.
“Access to resources that address the most basic human needs are critical to the safety and survival of our community,” said Kristina Singleton, IRC executive director. “While this is a bold departure from our day center service model, this program allows us to fill a gap in resources. Fundamental needs like restrooms aren’t bound by specific hours of the day and access to them shouldn’t be either.”
Not only that but there will be evening case management, which connects people to benefits.
Elizabeth Alverson is the Supportive Housing Analyst for the Greensboro Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. She said this is going to be a game changer for the community in terms of homelessness services.
"Rather than having to just speak basic needs between eight and three o'clock, daily, folks can be able to drop in to access all the services no matter what time they're experiencing homelessness or those services," said Alverson. "Oftentimes we work based on office hours, but the needs of people experiencing homelessness don't stop at five or six o'clock in the evening, they go throughout the night, and being able to just access a bathroom or shower or laundry services or things like that, allows it brings the dignity back to the service or for that person, and they're not limited in that way."
Earlier this year, Greensboro City Council allocated IRC funding to support the 24/7 service expansion.
“Over the past year, the City has implemented safe parking, pallet shelters and now funding to support 24/7 services to people experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughan. “This program will expand service access to hundreds of individuals in our community in need.”
IRC is always accepting donations, which include goods and supplies.
For more information about the center, head to the IRC's website here.