GREENSBORO, N.C. — International Resource Center leaders plan to meet Thursday to discuss its future.
City of Greensboro leaders want the IRC to come up with a 30-60-90 day plan for its operations.
The IRC helps support clients like Jason Wiggins. He said resources like a hot shower and laundry are just a few of the things that help him get on his feet.
"I've done work study programs here, all types of things and they have a great staff it's just the best people," Wiggins shared.
Those programs are what IRC Executive Director Kristina Singleton said she wants to continue. The non-profit requested 1.2 million in funds for five programs. So far the request has not gotten the green light, Singleton said her hands are tied.
"We are relying on the community heavily for support right now. We hope to figure out a way and we are submitting all the information that the city is requiring and hoping that the next council work session we have good news of moving forward with that funding," she said.
Singleton told us the IRC has seen an uptick of about 67% in clients in just one year. She said the future of the IRC is dependent on a steady cash flow.
"We want to be able to stay open, it's literally saving lives," she shared.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the city has no intention to close the IRC. She says the city wants to see the non-profit improve in areas that raise concerns for neighbors. She said the city plans to move forward once it gets a clear answer on how the IRC plans to handle its operations for the next three months.
"We wanted more information about their operations to make sure that they were safe. If people in the building weren't acting right, what do you do with them?" Vaughan said, "We did not de-fund the IRC and we did not deny funding. We do agree that they need to button up a little bit."
Lately there have been complaints surrounding the IRC. Neighbors tell us drugs and violence are a concern in the surrounding community. However Singleton said the issue extends beyond its location on East Washington Street.
"We see this as a community wide problem and have always seen it as a community wide problem. We work really hard to speak with our guests and talk to them about taking care of our community and the areas around us," Singleton explained.
The IRC has to present it's 30-60-90 day plan to commissioners by next week Tuesday. Then city council members will take a look and vote two days after.