The new Community House at 1315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and supportive programming will give homeless men the skills, support and care they need to change their lives. With the goal of returning program residents to fully functional positions in society, Community House is something that will benefit all of us.

The new Community House will be located near Homestead Park. The YMCA youth soccer league uses the soccer fields each Saturday to play an eight-week season each spring and fall. Close to 900 children participate in the league each week. I could not in good conscience support the new Community House if I thought it posed a danger to these children and their families.

One of the reasons that I have confidence in this project is that the YMCA has in place a long-standing invitation to residents of both the current Community House downtown and HomeStart, the IFC facility for homeless women and children located on Homestead Road. Over the years, Community House and HomeStart residents have joined us, and it's never created a problem. I hope with the recreational activities available to Community House residents both at the YMCA and in their new building, exercise will be an important part of their physical and spiritual healing.

Addressing homelessness is the responsibility of all members of our community. The IFC has consistently provided support to the disenfranchised in our community for nearly 50 years, bringing together individuals and congregations in this endeavor. I am grateful for the leadership role that the IFC provides and am proud to support this project.

Gerald Whortan

Executive director

Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA