Work is underway to renovate Suffolk’s former Regal Inn into a shelter for people who have lost housing.
Gerry Jones, director of capital programs and building, told city councilmembers that construction on the first city-owned temporary shelter is scheduled to wrap in the early summer of 2025.
“We are planning to … turn this thing into a nice little jewel,” he said.
Suffolk City Council approved the project in late 2023. The city acquired the former hotel property the following January. Renovation work began this September.
“Keep in mind, this building was built in 1987,” Jones said. “All those fixtures – sinks, toilets, bathtubs – all that stuff has to come out of there.”
The finished shelter is expected to contain 15 double occupancy rooms. Half of those, all on the ground floor, will be fully accessible to people with disabilities.
“So many of the folks that come in with needs for a homeless shelter … have many physical needs,” Jones said.
The former on-site manager’s apartment will be converted into office space, a reception area, a kitchen and community room as well as space for support programs.
The estimated cost for the renovations amounts to $1.7 million, exceeding the $1.4 million the city received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the American Rescue Plan Act for the work.
City Manager Al Moor said local funds will fill in the gap should additional grant pursuits fall short.
Suffolk contracted Carson Dean Consulting to help with support services as part of the shelter’s mission, according to Deputy City Manager Azeez Felder.
Carson Dean Consulting has 25 years of experience in the field, including leading the two largest emergency shelters in North Carolina.
“The human services side … is a science in and of itself,” Felder said. “They’re not just people you just put in a place and close the door. They have needs.”
Carson Dean Consulting will oversee the development of best practices for the shelter, explore funding strategies and ensure the shelter complies with local, state and federal regulations. They’re also helping plan the inclusion of wraparound services to be offered at the shelter.
“I’m just so glad that we’re doing this,” said Councilmember Roger Fawcett. “I want you to keep the pedal to the metal to get this thing done.”
Felder said the city is also working to secure a contractor for a winter shelter program to operate starting in late December. That program adds another temporary shelter to the city’s portfolio in addition to the former Regal Inn property.
Winter shelter programs provide overnight stays and other services to people that lose housing, often requiring they leave during the day and return before night. Unlike the planned Regal Inn shelter, winter shelters are commonly congregate shelters – meaning people do not get private rooms.
The focus in Suffolk comes as many city residents struggle with housing costs. Nearly a third of renters in the city are cost-burdened, defined by HUD as spending 30% or more of one’s income on housing.
Meanwhile, groups like the Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk are reporting a drop off in churches participating in its shelter program.
“We’re a coalition of churches,” said Mary Sue Rawls, CAPS director. “We totally depend on our area churches to provide shelter for those experiencing homelessness.”
This year, Rawls told councilmembers just five churches are working with CAPS – none in walking distance of Downtown Suffolk. The program did not run in 2023.
“We want to encourage the city and their efforts,” Rawls said. “And we want to request that the city is careful in selecting managers of its programs who can partner together to serve our citizens experiencing homelessness.”
“No one organization can handle all the many individual needs of those needing stabilization. We all need to work together for a solution that makes our city a model in Hampton Roads.”
