Council briefed on plans for Dream Center

Nancy McCleary, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·2 min read

Dec. 1—Representatives of the Life Springs Action Team Inc. updated Sanford City Council members Tuesday on plans for a center and resources to help residents in need of resources to deal with such issues as finances, education and crime.

It's a recovery plan project knowns as the Life Springs Dream Center. The center is affiliated with Life Springs Church on Keller-Andrews Road in Sanford.

"The Life Springs Dream Center brings hope and restoration to the homeless, the less fortunate and those battling life-controlling issues," Daniel Owen, the center director, said.

The Life Springs Team Inc. is registered as a nonprofit with a board of directors comprised of five members from Life Springs Church, Pastor Dale Sauls said. The board tapped Owen for the director's job.

Team members want to build relationships with the community and collaborate with other nonprofits in the county, Owen said.

Areas of particular interest are helping human trafficking victims, assisting in mental health and substance abuse needs of people who are in jail or recently released, Owen said.

The teams, working with Central Carolina Community College, also provides options for education and job training.

Council members commended Owen and Sauls on their efforts, saying there was a need to bring available resources together for the community.

Rhodes asked who would audit the nonprofits financial records.

At one point, Owen referred to volunteers as case managers, which drew a response from Rhodes.

"You talk about case management," she said. "To me a case manager requires a lot of specific training. Is that the case with the folks you're referring to as case managers?"

The team is looking to hire a social worker, Owen said.

"Do you plan to come to the city to ask for money?" Rhodes asked.

"That's a good question," Sauls said.

If council members find the Dream Center and its resources are successful, the team wouldn't turn down any help.

The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted at the Nov. 14 meeting to provide the $500,000 toward the Dream Team's efforts using county money received through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The vote was not unanimous. Some of the commissioners favored tabling the request for another month, but it was approved by a 4-3 vote.

The $500,000 allocation is reported to the be the largest amount the county has provided a nonprofit at one time.