Earlier today, I posted information received from an HCD staff member with the City of Greensboro, detailing the relocation of 26 former residents of the Coliseum Inn, which was purchased by the City in November, and has since been closed. I questioned the low number of residents relocated, knowing that the hotel’s occupancy rate was far greater than 26 people. There were hundreds of people living at the hotel. I haven’t received any further information from the City, but tonight, I spoke to a homeless friend who gave me the names and locations of half a dozen of his friends who lost their housing when the Coliseum Inn closed, and are now back on the street, living outside — homeless. He told me that he could make me a longer list with the names of everyone he knows who got kicked out and is back on the street, and I plan to sit down with him and get that list.
I asked my friend if he knew of families with children who were staying at the Coliseum Inn when the City closed the hotel, and he said, “yes.” I asked if he knew where they went, and he said at least two of the families are now living in their cars — with their children. I am going to follow up with my friend to try to find out more names and locations of people who have become homeless due to the City’s closing of the Coliseum Inn, and try to locate some of the people and offer them what we have in our street outreach supplies — blankets, food, toiletries, etc., and to let them know about the resources that I’m aware of, including the winter emergency shelters and the day center.
The City bought and closed the Coliseum Inn. And now I hear that as a result of the closing, there are more homeless people on the street, including families with children living in their cars. This is exactly what I feared would happen when I first emailed City Council and City staff about the potential closing, back in August. The hotel closed very quietly, with little notice. But the City’s contribution to increasing homelessness has not gone unnoticed. Stay tuned.
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Michele, thanks for following up on this. It’s important that people know what’s happening to poor people in the name of High Point Road’s makeover. I wish the city had given more notice and coordinated more closely with advocates. And I wish more people cared.
I’ve been tied down with other stories, so I regret that I haven’t been on the case with you. If there’s anything I can do to gather or disseminate information, let me know.