The Carying Place
Helping People Along the Journey to Success
For 33 years, The Carying Place has worked to help families experiencing homelessness. It all started when Milt Douglass, an avid volunteer, was helping a friend move. He saw a family that appeared to need help and invited them to have coffee with him. Milt soon learned that the family was experiencing homelessness, and he was determined to do something about it. “That was the spark that started The Carying Place,” says Leslie Covington, executive director.
The Carying Place provides a safe place for children and families to get a good night’s sleep.
In the beginning, the organization rented hotel rooms and apartments to house families in need. “Then we realized with the help of the town of Cary and our fundraising, we could purchase homes for our families,” Leslie adds. To date, The Carying Place has purchased 15 homes and owns all debt-free except for one, which will be paid off soon.
The Carying Place’s Journey Home program begins with stabilizing a working family experiencing homelessness. The organization provides 16 weeks of no-cost transitional housing while teaching life skills and financial literacy. Families receive guidance in managing personal finances, setting attainable goals, seeking permanent affordable housing, and maintaining their employment. During this time, families learn skills required for self-sufficiency through weekly meetings followed by 12 months of workforce development and home ownership preparation.
 | Amelia graduated from The Carying Place program and then purchased her first home with a mortgage from TowneBank. |
Children are also included in the program. “We have age-specific programs for children to help them with life skills and activities to increase their confidence and well-being,” Leslie says. Older children learn financial literacy, how to set goals, and plan for school and careers. “We give them the resources they need – from clothes to helping them get registered for school,” Leslie says. This year, the organization welcomed its 600th family into its Journey Home Program.
Building on its successful model, an exciting new opportunity is on the horizon for The Carying Place and the greater Cary area, with plans for the Carr Center, a development offering housing, childcare, financial literacy education, and family services all at one campus, located on the grounds of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church.
This innovative campus will provide:
- 11 transitional housing units for homeless working families with children
- 51 affordable rental units managed by DHIC for residents at or below 60%
- Full-day childcare provided by GFBC Childcare Center and the YMCA
- Offices and program space for The Carying Place’s coaching and support services
- Outdoor community gathering areas
The Carr Center is named in memory of Timothy Ash Carr, who was a pivotal force in its development before he passed away in 2024. “Tim was such a big part of making this possible, and his passing broke everyone’s hearts. We knew we had to name the center after him. It was his biggest desire to see the center built,” Leslie says.
TowneBank is honored to support the Carr Center through a foundation gift and ongoing programmatic support of The Carying Place, which enjoys a banking relationship with Kristin Sutton, senior vice president and commercial banker.
The Carying Place executive director Leslie Covington (right) attends an event with Board Chair Kyle Greer.
The Carying Place can always use volunteer help as families go through the Journey Home Program. “Whatever someone wants to do,” Leslie says, “we can tailor the volunteer experience to find the right fit.” She finds deep meaning in working with families experiencing homelessness, recognizing that there is more that unites us than divides us. “We are more like each other than we realize. Seeing the light turn on in someone’s face when they realize ‘I can do this!’ is profound. The path is not always smooth, but they understand that they don’t have to stay where they are, and we are here to help along the way. I love the sense that I can leave people better than when I found them.”
For more information, visit TheCaryingPlace.org.