Nov 26, 2024
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) -- Neighbors in the Five Points area in High Point are expressing concerns after learning a nonprofit is exploring a nearby property as a potential site for a homeless shelter and day center. Open Door Ministries is eyeing the location, it’s not a done deal yet. The nonprofit wanted to keep its interest in the 21-acre piece of property along Jamestown Parkway under wraps until Guilford County leaders signed off on the project. Residents who live nearby said their biggest concerns are safety and open communication with the nonprofit.  “I would not have bought a home in a neighborhood knowing that a few years later they're going to put a homeless shelter in my backyard, and this would literally be behind my house,” said Saundra Bethea, a resident in the Five Points area. The 21-acre property at 2920 Jamestown Parkway is one of six properties Open Door Ministries has looked into to potentially build a homeless shelter and day center. The property is owned by Guilford County. The nonprofit wanted to wait to announce it had its eyes on the location because there haven’t been any official decisions made and only discussions so far. “What we really want people to understand is we're wanting to add to the community. We're not wanting to take anything away, and I think that's where some miscommunication has happened, ... It's just going to be a homeless shelter, and that is not the case,” Open Door Ministries Executive Director Ryan Ross said. Bethea’s home sits right behind the property. She said she and many of her neighbors were not aware it was being looked at by Open Door Ministries. "We had a neighborhood watch meeting several months ago with the City of High Point representative. Representatives from the Open Door shelter, the executive director, his assistant as well as their content creator were at the meeting. So at the end of the meeting, they did discuss different parts about the Open Door Ministry,” Bethea said. Ross confirmed the nonprofit spoke to community members a few months ago. The meeting did not mention a specific location the nonprofit was looking into for the potential project. Ross said it’s because nothing is set in stone. “We thought they were there simply as neighbors since the shelter where it's currently located is near the Five Points area. We didn't find out anything about them even considering our neighborhood until last week. So we were very shocked to find out that that was even a consideration because during that meeting, there was nothing mentioned about it,” Bethea said. Bethea said many neighbors in the area aren’t against services to help the homeless. She thinks a commercial area would be a better fit instead of a residential area.                                                       “They are saying that they will have security and that they will have a fence which will make it secure. Well, that's not going to work in this neighborhood,” Bethea said. "We want to be able to provide resources and services into that area of town and into the regions that we feel like we can impact the community the most in that area right now," Ross said. If the project were to happen, Bethea is also concerned about the economic impact on the Five Points area. “We're trying to build up our neighborhood. We're trying to get a grocery store out there. We've not had a grocery store there since 2008. Certainly, we're trying to revitalize our neighborhood. Putting in a homeless center will deter new businesses from coming,” Bethea said. Bethea said she and other community members reached out to city and county leaders about this.  Open Door Ministries says it plans to hold community meetings about its plans. No official decision will be made until hearing from residents. “They're the ones that live there ... We don't want to negatively impact everyone. We want to have their input because there's certain things that maybe we haven't thought about that they're thinking about that we could do differently going forward ... I'd rather hear about that now than later. So it's one of those things that we'll have as many meetings as we feel like is necessary,” Ross said. Ross said he will be in discussion with Guilford County commissioners again next week. Open Door Ministries plans to start reaching out to community members in the next week or so to have some tentative meetings with community leaders. They anticipate a bigger meeting will be scheduled after the holiday season around January. 
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