Orange County Red Cross shelter closing

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

Twenty people slept at the shelter Wednesday night, but that won't be the case any longer. The shelter is transitioning to a disaster assistance center as the clean up continues.

After four nights at the emergency shelter, this isn't the Fourth of July Dwayne Hayes had in mind.

"I just want to go home and turn the TV on and have a normal life," Hayes said. "I had money saved. We were going to cook out and have a good time just with family and friends. Now there's no money and there's nowhere to cook out."

The overnight shelter will close Thursday and residents will sleep at nearby hotels.

"A more private and comfortable setting is really crucial to their recovery," said Lou Esposito with the Red Cross.  

The displaced residents received a hot meal Thursday as the shelter made its transition to a client services center. A team of counselors are on hand to help the remaining residents relocate and plan for a new home.

For Caitlyn Wood there's no going back to the flood-ravaged Rocky Brook mobile home park in Carrboro. Homes in the community were condemned and the fears are still fresh for Wood.

"It's going to happen again. People can't just pick it up, patch it up like nothing ever happened," Wood said.

The Orange County Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Department is asking anyone with a vacant rental property in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro areas to contact them. They said there is an urgent need for those displaced by Sunday's flood.

If property managers or apartment communities have vacant units available for rent, they are asked to contact the Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Department at (919) 245-2490. All properties will be listed in a referral database that will be available to caseworkers assisting flood victims.

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