Troubleshooter: Horizon helps the homeless, but now it needs a hand

Hartye and William Massengill, chief operating officer of Wake Health Services, are trying to find a solution to the mold problem. There is no building near the site that is set up to be a doctor's office, which requires a sink in every room and handicap access. And even if someone wanted to donate a warehouse, the center doesn't have money to renovate it.

Right now, the temporary remedy is to double up at Wake Health's Rock Quarry Road family medical facility, which serves the uninsured and underinsured. But that would be a hike for homeless patients.

So Triangle Troubleshooter is stepping in to help with this community issue.

Who could help?

Horizon helps save Wake County money. Without Horizon, more homeless patients likely would end up in the emergency room, which costs far more than a visit with Hartye. That cost for ER visits usually gets passed on to the rest of us if we go to the hospital.

"The community has a choice," reads a Horizon brochure. "Spend $28,000 when untreated chronic illness turns into an emergency, or spend $720 for quality primary care that prevents chronic illness from spiraling."

In addition to general medicine, Horizon provides drug abuse and mental health counseling. It helps those diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. And it also provides sweaters and shoes when patients need them.

And did I mention it is the only group providing routine medical treatment for Wake's homeless?

I called the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County and learned that its remodelers council takes on a charity project each year. The council just completed a renovation of Haven House, which helps at-risk youth.

Glenn White, the council's chairman, said as it discusses its 2011 project, it could add Horizon to the list.

"Maybe we can make something work," he said.

Habitat for Humanity of Wake County builds affordable houses for qualified buyers, but I wondered whether it would consider renovating this nonprofit group's facility.

Kevin Campbell, Habitat's executive director, said that in the past, it has worked with nonprofit groups.

"If an organization wanted to have a conversation, we'd be open to that," he said.

Habitat also has a demolition team that salvages building items to sell in its home goods stores, Campbell said. Then they take down the building. Habitat could provide a competitive demolition bid for Horizon, Campbell added.

Next call: NCSU

Finally, I called N.C. State University's College of Design to inquire about students taking this on as a project.

Yes, students have done such projects in the past. But they are limited because they have to work with a licensed professional, and NCSU is bound by the Umstead Act, which says a state division or agency can't compete with the private sector, said Carla Abramczyk, a design school spokeswoman.

Robin Abrams, head of the architecture school, said she couldn't send students to Horizon until the mold problem is fixed.

"But if they could get that done, we could get students, the Young Architects Forum and volunteers to work on it," she said.

Those were my ideas. Now, I'm turning to you, readers.

Are you a builder or an engineer who can help? Do you know anyone who can?

Put your thinking caps on, people. (Personally, I hope one of Ty Pennington's relatives lives here. You know Ty, who hosts ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Come on Ty!)

Call me or send me e-mail with your suggestions. And remember, everything is a good idea in brainstorming. I say, let's do it for our community.