New homeless shelter coming to Davidson County

LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — Families facing homelessness is an issue that is growing rapidly across the Triad.

“We always have families calling, social workers calling, trying to get families with children shelter, so it has been a real struggle trying to meet that need each and every day,” said Ashely Phillips, the executive director at Davidson County First Hope Ministries.

There is a long list of parents and kids waiting for a bed, but a new homeless shelter for families will break ground in the coming weeks.

The first major hurdle is done, but there is still a lot of work to do. The City of Lexington approved the zoning for the property, and Davidson County First Hope Ministries has funded nearly 80 percent of the construction of the family shelter. That is only phase one of three.

“The first strip is going to be the family shelter,” Phillips said while at the new property.

It’s been a vision for Phillips and her team for more than five years.

“There are tons of families out there that are needing our help,” Phillips said.

Right now, they can house seven families, but the new shelter would have space for 16 families.

“Most of the time at any given day of the week, we have at least 10-15 families on a waiting list,” Phillips said.

Case managers will be assigned to families, and the center will operate like their current family shelter.

“It is going to be set up kind of like an apartment-style complex. As it is now, they share their living quarters such as the living room, kitchen, playroom. That will be all for house use … Then each family will have their individual room and bathroom,” Phillips said.

It’s not just families. Phase two of the project will include shelter for 84 men and 24 women.

“You will get a bed, a locker and three meals a day,” Phillips said.

It’s been a struggle to meet the needs, but with more than 100 beds, wait lists could be gone or lessened.

“We will fill it up fast. There is no doubt that. If we have a bed open, it is going to be full,” Phillips said.

Davidson County First Hope Ministries needs the community’s help to make it happen.

“Our goal is to get as many people off the streets … and connect them to resources,” Phillips said.

An empty plot of land on Robbins Street in Lexington will soon overflow with hope for the homeless.

“We need our community support. We need prayers. We need donations. We need our community to stand behind us and support us as we are trying to end this homeless population,” Phillips said.

Phase three will include administrative offices.

The total project will cost around $4.5 million. Phase one will cost around $1 million and is almost fully funded. Once that happens, they will start fundraising for phase two. If you would like to donate, you can do so on their website.

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