Homeless advocates fighting for property

WILMINGTON — It’s back to the drawing board for Wilmington City Council. In May Council voted to give federally-owned land behind Legion Stadium to Elderhaus, Girls Incorporated and Parks and Recreation.

But advocates for the homeless are fighting to get the property for affordable housing.

The Rhodes Army Reserve Center will be decommissioned in 2011. Many agencies could use its valuable property. But the federal government has to sign off on who gets it.

The Rhodes Military Reserve Center in Wilmington will eventually serve a new purpose other than training troops. After the year 2011 it could become a residence for some of Wilmington’s homeless population.

Wilmington Interfaith Executive Director Steven Spain said, “The Rhodes Center is important because we need housing so much, we don’t need more shelters, we have enough shelters we want people to get out of the shelters and more permanent housing.”

Local homeless advocates submitted a proposal to Wilmington’s city council to turn the military property into a place for disabled residents and low-income families. But City Council turned down the idea and recommended turning the site into a senior center and a place to mentor at-risk teens.

City Council Committee Chair Jason Thompson said, “We have plenty of other services for the homeless in our community and some of the eldercare type things we didn’t have as much, and Girls Incorporated needed a new space. You’ve got to balance the needs throughout the community and unfortunately that didn’t come to the top.”

But the federal government notified city officials about their disapproval of the plan and wants the city to reconsider housing for the homeless. It’s estimated on any given night around 500 people don’t have permanent shelter in Wilmington.

“There are many ways that shelter could be used but the opportunity that homeless providers saw is to get some housing that is desperately needed.”

Councilwoman Laura Padgett says the city already has a 10-year plan to end homelessness, which she doesn’t believe the federal government took into consideration when making its decision.

Padgett believes a senior care center would be better for the community.