© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Work Set To Begin On New Mental Health Treatment Facility

Construction is scheduled to begin next month on a new mental health treatment center in Charlotte that’s expected to open this summer.

The center will be run by an organization called the Hopeway Foundation. Bill Blue started the foundation nearly two years ago in response to problems his family experienced in dealing with the mental health system. He says it was apparent the system has two major gaps.

"One was the ability to get a diagnosis and assessment quickly, and the second was the gap in the continuing care between the hospital, and the doctor’s office," Blue says.

Hopeway will help fill those gaps with 36 beds to serve in-patient clients and have facilities to serve 50 outpatient clients a day.

Blue says Hopeway has raised about 90 percent of its $25 million dollar fundraising goal. Its supporters include Carolina Healthcare System and Novant Health.

Hopeway is located on 12 acres on Sharon Road in Southeast Charlotte.  A building that used to house Kennedy Charter School is being renovated. The site will also include two single-family homes for transitional living, a greenhouse and walking trails.

Greg Collard served as news director from 2008 to 2023. He served as WFAE's executive editor in 2023. He came to WFAE from West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In his eight years there, Greg had roles as a reporter, editor and producer. He was the executive producer of a television news magazine and news director for radio and television when he decided to head south for Charlotte.