Living Hope Day Shelter: Community Concerns and the Struggle for Location in Wilmington

Living Hope received a $200,000 grant from The Endowment in 2024, following its transition from a street ministry started in 2020 to a facility at the First Baptist Church in 2023. While the organization has received positive feedback from downtown stakeholders and the Wilmington Police Department, it faced significant community opposition this year when seeking a new location.

Neighborhood Concerns and Zoning

During a community meeting regarding a potential move to the former Sorrow Drowner, neighbors asked whether the day shelter possessed the correct zoning designation. Residents expressed concerns over safety precautions and the management of visitors, noting the site’s proximity to residential homes and three schools: Williston Middle, New Hanover High, and the International School at Gregory.

Some residents cited specific fears regarding neighborhood upkeep and security. A neighbor known as Mississippi opposed the shelter, stating, A lot of time I see why you homeless people be doing other places around here, you know, do it with trash and you know saying it’s just bad and just sit on people’s porch and stuff like that. So you know, I don’t think [it would] be a good idea, according to WHQR.

Residents Cite Lack of Transparency from Living Hope

While some residents support the concept of day shelters, others attributed their frustration to a lack of preparedness and transparency from Living Hope. Resident Michael Jenkins claimed he offered to walk the neighborhood with the organization before the community meeting to help them understand the area and communicate their plans, but said those offers were consistently declined.

Jenkins specifically highlighted a lack of notice provided to Black residents who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. He noted that while the area currently has few problems, there are occasional issues with people moving onto the porches of empty houses for short periods.

Support for Homeless Services

Despite the friction, some community members advocated for the necessity of the service. Susan, a local resident, described the shelter as a needed service, particularly as public spaces for the unhoused decrease, though she acknowledged concerns that people would visit the site at night despite it being a daytime facility.

Charles Singleton, a senior in the community, expressed a desire to help those experiencing homelessness who are living in the street. However, he admitted a lingering concern regarding safety, stating, It’s a nice area, but the idea, when you close your door at night, you don’t know who is who.

Living Hope has since acknowledged in a Facebook post that the process could have been handled better.