Special to IFN
Fifth Street Ministries is working to coordinate the community response for individuals and families facing displacement by the closure of the Brookwood Inn.
Roughly 60 family units who had called the Brookwood Inn home are now in urgent need of housing, resources, and support.
As the designated hub organization, Fifth Street Ministries is coordinating with partner agencies from the Iredell Homeless Coalition to deliver services, provide case management, and help families stabilize. The collective efforts of local nonprofits, faith-based groups, and government agencies demonstrate the strength and compassion of the Iredell County community.
“We recognize the incredible burden this closure places on so many vulnerable families,” said Joseph Mazzola, Fifth Street Ministries Board chair. “We felt called to step into this role because this is what our mission demands of us—meeting people where they are and working together to find solutions. We are not doing this alone. This is a community-wide response, and we are grateful for every partner walking alongside us.”
Support for this critical effort is already growing. The United Way of Iredell County’s Endowment for the Future has announced a $15,000 matching grant to help raise the funds needed to meet immediate and long-term needs of the displaced families.
“We have been deeply concerned about how this closure will impact the families who have called Brookwood home. We are grateful to Fifth Street for leading a community response and are proud to be able to be a small part of this solution using the community crisis criteria for our Endowment,” said Rev. Nelson Granade, chair of the Endowment Committee.
Fifth Street has contracted with Pam Navey to serve as the response coordinator for this initiative. She brings years of nonprofit leadership and case management experience to the role, and her familiarity with local systems and resources will be instrumental in ensuring the most effective response possible.
“I’m inspired by the way this community comes together to stand with our underhoused neighbors—this collaboration is exactly why I’m honored to join Fifth Street Ministries,” said Tamara Roach, executive director of Fifth Street Ministries.
How You Can Help
Community members who wish to support the response can make a financial contribution online at: https://www.fifthstreetministries.com/donations/ by selecting “Brookwood Response” from the drop down list or by mailing a check to: Fifth Street Ministries, PO Box 5217, Statesville, NC 28687 and noting “Brookwood Response” in the memo. Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000 thanks to the United Way Endowment.
For more information or to get involved, contact Fifth Street Ministries at (704) 872-4045 or email admin@fifthstreetministries.com.
Related
♦ Brookwood Inn residents face uncertainty after being told to vacate
♦ Local nonprofits scrambling to help Brookwood Inn residents find housing