Homeless communication: Carrboro pantry should not combine with kitchen

Community members in and out of Carrboro should be concerned by the Inter-Faith Council’s plans to turn Carrboro’s food pantry into a combination pantry and food-serving facility.

The Inter-Faith Council is optimistic about the relocation, but residents should be wary.

The already tight and heavily trafficked streets of Carrboro are the wrong location for a homeless kitchen.

The council attributes the  relocation to a need for improving its feeding programs. They claim the move would not encourage panhandlers.

Residents should be cautious of the council’s words of reassurance.

The Inter-Faith Council needs to keep in mind Carrboro’s outdoor and family-oriented atmosphere if they plan to combine these two facilities.

The council contends that this program has worked well in the past and that the move would only yield positive results for both the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities.

A bone of contention between the council and opponents of the plan has been fueled by a noticeable lack of communication with Carrboro’s government and residents.

Communication between the two is necessary for a successful outcome. Residents need to express their voice.

Alternatives to the Carrboro space, which originally looked promising due to its close proximity to bus lines, were rejected for Main Street’s downtown position. The values of these alternatives should be reconsidered.

Homelessness is an issue in Orange County that needs to be addressed. Community members should learn more about it and get involved with Project Homeless Connect.

The project is a one-day event to provide a range of services to people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Residents need to do their part in working with the council on finding the facility’s best location.