The non-profit, Metrocrest Services, has broken ground on a 48,000 square foot campus in Carrollton that aims to make its services easier to use. The project will bring each of the group's services into the same facility.
Right now, Metrocrest works with the North Texas Food Bank to distribute food and also provides a computer lab, workforce development, therapy, rental assistance and financial literacy classes. But the organization says its services were scattered in different areas.
"We want to make sure we have the right place for the people we serve," says Metrocrest Services Chief Executive Tracy Eubanks. "Currently, we have multiple locations, so we're highly inefficient. We hate that. This is bringing everything together under one roof here at the epicenter of our community."
Metrocrest Services is building its hub near Josey Lane and Belt Line Road:
1835 Walnut Ave
Carrollton, TX 75006
Eubanks says Metrocrest was looking for an area that would be accessible for mass transit and also within walking distance of neighborhoods with the greatest need.
"Equitable accessibility is a real issue for our community," he says. "If you have folks working or want to work, but they can't get to us, we're trying to change those things so no one's denied service because of inequitable access."
"Having this organization as a partner to be able to address those needs is something that's beyond words," says Carrollton Mayor Kevin Falconer.
Falconer says an organization like Metrocrest can help people gain job skills and more stable housing, which, in turn, will help the city's economy continue to grow.
"Building a stronger community together is truly what they do," says Kimberley McKinnon, who says Metrocrest's services helped her keep her home in Farmers Branch. She says she went to Metrocrest for the first time in 2019 for utility assistance. She says she did not know the non-profit would have other "wrap-around" services.
"I had no idea what would be available to me as a client of theirs," she says. "It has completely been what has enabled me to get through the pandemic to now to actually maintain a stable life."
The center should open in early 2023. Details are available here.
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