LGBT Center of Raleigh has permanent downtown space for the first time in years
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- LGBT Center of Raleigh opened a 3,000-square-foot downtown hub on Dec. 10.
- New site houses library, clothing closet, cyber center, pantry and gathering space.
- Center will offer programs and provide resources, including helping people find housing.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, downtown Raleigh will have a permanent place where the LGBTQ+ community can find resources and programs.
The LGBT Center of Raleigh celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 128 E. Cabarrus St. next to the Lincoln Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The 3,000-square-foot space includes an LGBTQ+ library with around 5,000 books, as well as a free clothing closet, cyber center with computers, lounge space, care pantry with shelf-stable foods, and a harm reduction kiosk with items such as hygiene products and Narcan, the center’s executive director, Kori Hennessey, told The News & Observer. The space also includes a conference room, staff offices and a kitchenette.
“There’s so many opportunities to be able to really make this a center that is for everyone and not just for people who need the most help,” Hennessey said. “We want to make sure that we are bringing that sense of belonging and support to everybody.”
The LGBT Center of Raleigh made its programs virtual and held events at many locations for years after the pandemic, until it found a downtown space within budget that could accommodate the nonprofit’s needs.
The center, made possible with the help of a $300,000 donation from Cooper Tacia General Contracting, will help share resources and provide a “third place” for the community, where people can connect.
A focus for the center is assisting people with finding stable housing opportunities or emergency shelters, said Hennessey, who uses they/them pronouns. For a few years, housing has been one of the top requests among people who visit the center, they said.
“It’s been really important for us to kind of help fill that gap, because a lot of people come to us at the LGBT Center first, before they try to go anywhere else because not everywhere else is safe or affirming for them to be,” Hennessey said.
The center plans to open regular drop-in hours in mid-January, Hennessey said. In the meantime, it is open by appointment and for programming, while final touches are added to the space.
“A lot of people thought we stopped existing for five years because we hadn’t had a really permanent space,” Hennessey said. “So, yeah, we’re ready to kind of just set down roots.”
