Former assisted living home in Fayetteville becomes transition housing center

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A former nursing home along Murchison Road in Fayetteville is getting a new purpose, helping men experiencing homelessness get back on their feet.

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Local nonprofit Men of Purpose is transforming the former assisted living facility near downtown into a 40-bed transitional housing center for men facing homelessness.

According to organizers, the goal is to provide more than just temporary shelter. The facility will offer wraparound services designed to help residents transition into permanent housing, employment, and independent living.

“Our goal is to get you from unhoused and homeless to being in permanent housing with a job, transportation, living a regular life,” said John Russell with Men of Purpose.

The nonprofit is investing tens of thousands of dollars into renovations, including adding beds, a computer lab, entertainment areas and a full kitchen.

According to organizers, residents will also have access to job readiness training, mentorship programs, clothing support, and life skills development.

“Life skills building. Resume building. We also have clothing pantries, so we can teach an individual how to dress when they are trying to get a job,” Russell said.

According to Russell, a peer support specialist who works closely with the unhoused community, the idea for the project came after seeing worsening conditions around Fayetteville’s downtown library

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Russell told city leaders some unhoused individuals gather there because it offers safety and Wi-Fi access, but conditions had become concerning for families and children visiting the area.

“What brought me into this was seeing the help needed inside the community,” Russell said.

The project comes as Fayetteville continues working to address homelessness through several initiatives, including the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center and the city’s Office of Community Safety.

Housing has remained one of the biggest challenges in Cumberland County.

City council recently approved rezoning for the Men of Purpose facility, clearing the way for renovations to continue.

According to organizers, individuals will be able to stay at the transitional housing center between three and six months while working toward stability.

“We want them to come to us,” Russell said. “We can stabilize them. Give them a roof over their heads and send them on a trajectory of success.”

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Men of Purpose hopes to open the facility as early as July.