In Lawrenceville today, Gwinnett County leaders ceremonially dug into the future site of a new lifeline for residents—the Gwinnett Community Resource Center. The facility, sprawling across 84,232 square feet and towering three stories high at 1040 Grayson Highway, is posed to become a hub for various social supports, including mental and behavioral health services, reported Gwinnett County News.
Responding to the clamor for accessible mental health care, the center's master plan integrates the county's pioneering inpatient stabilization unit. Boasting 30 beds, the unit will extend 24/7 care to individuals in dire straits. Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, in a statement to Gwinnett County News, stressed the importance of the center, saying, “Too many people struggle in silence, unable to find the help they desperately need. My hope is that this addition to our health and human services network will propel us into a new era of community well-being." Hendrickson's sentiments underscore a broader narrative, that help has been elusive for too many, for too long.
The Gwinnett Community Resource Center, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act with a tagged $46 million budget, also plans to feature a temporary observation day center with fifteen slots for short-term stabilization needs, along with a full-service outpatient clinic that promises ongoing support. District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins III, retired Army Lt. Colonel and View Point Health Board member, told Gwinnett County News, "For too long, we've seen the impact of untreated mental health challenges around the country and the world. This Gwinnett Community Resource Center is a game-changer for my district and the entire county, providing intentional care and support to people of all ages."
But mental health is but a facet of this community jewel. It will stand as the central station for the OneStop 4 Help initiative, offering a Community Navigator space to guide folks through the thicket of housing, food assistance, and job support services. Also in the blueprint is a Child Development Center, aiming to ensure that young ones are accorded high-quality childcare and education in a secure environment. Plus, in collaboration with Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90, a Veteran and Family Services office will render specialized support to those who have borne the brunt of service.
The site doubles as a multi-purpose venue for workforce development initiatives, training sessions, and doubles as a warming station when the weather turns harsh. The project's architectural muscle is flexed by TSW Design, and its bones are being crafted by Reeves Young LLC. The ground-breaking ceremony represents not just the breaking of soil, but the planting of hope for the people of Gwinnett County, looking forward to accessing these essential services when the center opens its doors.
