Center for underprivileged mothers coming to Kernersville

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — A facility to help underprivileged single mothers and pregnant women will be built in Kernersville.

The future site of the Promise Center in Kernersville is what Albert Hodges says will be a place where hope is born for underprivileged mothers.

"It's not enough to help them through their pregnancies. The real work begins after their babies are born," Hodges said.

Hodges is the CEO of the nonprofit Room at the Inn which will operate the center.

The Kernersville Board of Alderman approved the rezoning of the nearly 45-acre property off Brookford Road near the VA hospital during its meeting Tuesday night. Hodges says the center will provide support services to underprivileged mothers including childcare, case management, counseling and even job training.

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"One of the things we've learned over the years is that one of the biggest barriers single mothers faces is marketable skills. They want to work but it's very hard to get a job making minimum wage that can support them and their child. So we've always focused on job training and a career that they're qualified for," Hodges said.

One woman who took advantage of similar programs provided by Room at the Inn is Jessica Crawford. She says that 18 years ago, she was pregnant with her daughter in Greensboro.

"When I found out I was pregnant, two weeks after, I got an eviction notice. And at the church my mom was going to, she saw they posted on a door and I started the process of entering a shelter," Crawford said.

Crawford says she stayed at the Mary Nussbaum Maternity Shelter.

Thanks to the resources she was provided, she became a licensed practical nurse and was thankfully able to provide for her child.

It's a blessing she hopes other mothers who are in similar situations don't take for granted.

"Having that help was a weight lifted off my shoulders to be able to have my child and be in college. Getting my degree opened up so many doors and becoming a nurse. It's taken my life on lots of turns," Crawford said.

Hodges says right now, his nonprofit Room at the Inn has raised $7 million through the capital campaign to build the Promise Center. They have another $5 million to go.

Hodges says the goal is to break ground sometime in 2025.