Fayetteville program for homeless must find new home

The Abney Chapel Weekend Homeless Feeding program provides hot meals to the homeless at the community building at Campbell Terrace. Volunteers from several churches hand out food on Saturdays and Sundays. Last year, more than 6,000 meals were served.

However, about two months ago, the church got notice from the Fayetteville Housing Authority that the complex would be torn down, including the community center. The search then began for a new home for the program.

“That's just it; we don't know what to do. We've gone to the mayor, we've gone to other areas,” said Kathy Michael, with Abney Chapel. “It is so important for us not to forget that these people are going to be here, and we need somewhere for them to go.”

"You see children and they are so appreciative,” said Peggy Roey, with the Abney Chapel. "It is something that really needs to continue."

Christina Peterson is among the homeless people who frequent the community center. 

“That's just going to really hurt a lot of people. Some people really need this place on weekends,” Peterson said.

“People like us, poor and homeless people are not going to have nowhere to go to eat,” Daphne Stout said. “We would be starving, literally, because we don't get much income.”

Roey said she is doing everything she can to find another facility.  If she doesn't, the program could lose federal grant money.

“We're praying and expecting a miracle,” Roey said.

Campbell Terrace is being torn down to build a new neighborhood with a mix of rental and individually-owned homes. The project is funded by a federal grant awarded to the Housing Authority last year.