By ALAYSIA EZZARD
Courtesy of Alaysia Ezzard
On Sept. 10, Laurel celebrated the opening of the Craig A. Moe Multiservice Center. The center is in a former athletic facility on Fort Meade Road. Following an extensive study by the City of Laurel Homelessness and Community Services Task Force, the city purchased the facility for $2.4 million in 2020. The center’s primary goal is to support unhoused individuals by providing resources essential to health and well-being.
The center’s day program offers a number of services for free, including bathrooms (with showers) and a laundry room. The center also provides free clothing, hot evening meals and an onsite barber and hairstylist.
“Come in here, pick out some items that you might need,” Marchelle LeBlanc, director of the multiservice center, said. “Hoodies, jackets — we’re gonna have boots, gym shoes. We have toiletry items. All those things they can pick up for free.”
For those searching for a job, job training and job placement services are available. Education workshops and wellness programs are also planned.
A transitional housing program is scheduled to open 19 rooms in January 2025 on the second level of the facility The program, operated by Laurel Advocacy Referral Services (LARS), will offer housing, including ADA-compliant rooms, to adults 25 and over.
“Come to a safe place, relax. Take advantage of connecting with a variety of service providers,” LeBlanc said.
Two rooms on the first level will act as a winter shelter, with 13 beds for women and 26 beds for men. Both rooms will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“People can come off the street, have a place to sleep, and then in the morning, if necessary, they can come to the day center, access the laundry, the shower facilities, get some coffee and just relax,” LeBlanc said. “If you don’t have anywhere to go, now you can come to the center and get some support.”
The center has security measures in place, including cameras throughout the building and metal detectors. A security
Courtesy of Alaysia Ezzard
guard is also on site, and staff members are trained to provide basic security-related support.
“We’re trained in de-escalation, being trauma informed, just treating everybody with respect and kindness, knowing that we’re going to have some challenges that kind of come with this type of service, but I think we can meet the need and help people, even in the midst of all of that,” LeBlanc said.
Individuals are already utilizing the facility.
“One gentleman told me he’s been living in an abandoned building for three months, and he almost never gets to shower, so he was just so happy that this place is here,” Sandra Price, operations manager, said.
Price chose to work at the center primarily to provide resources to those in need. She noted that volunteers are always welcome.
“The day center, the traffic has already quadrupled,” she said. “We just need help to keep things going, and ongoing.”
The multiservice center is currently open for modified hours. On Nov. 4, it will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
