Center to unveil plan to house Charlotte homeless

CHARLOTTE — The Urban Ministry Center wants the city of Charlotte to change how the state’s largest city deals with the chronically homeless.

The Charlotte Observer reported that center will unveil a $10 million project that includes apartments for up to 85 of the city’s most troubled homeless people and training needed to build a life.

Moore Place will be based on similar programs in a half dozen cities that who that it’s cheaper to house the chronically homeless than to continue paying for their frequent trips to jail or the emergency room.

Center officials say that from that perspective alone, the project could save the city an estimated $2 million in its first year.

Land has been purchased and the apartments are set for completion in late 2010.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)