By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Persistence has kept Anthony Jackson moving forward as he worked towards making a vision and reality.

“I have been working towards this for seven years,” Jackson said. “It is time for me to step up and up.”

The dream is of a ‘one-stop-shop’ for helping the homeless and community resources called the CROSS Center.

“Community, Resources, Offering Social and Spiritual solutions,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he has worked with the city of Orange to get one step closer to turning a once empty building, located at 911 Border Street in Orange, into an asset to the community.

CROSS is a duly organized faith/community – based non-profit organization, inspired by the Spirit of God and recognized by the State of Texas that strives to contribute to the quality of life and meet selected basic needs of the less fortunate in the County of Orange Texas. Through the understanding of the necessity of a structured faith and community-based program, the concept and development of a community One Stop Shop has been pioneered. 

Many people challenged with homelessness, a lack of basic education, insufficient job/employment skills, and other personal and professional challenges, need a centralized location that offers the skills, education, training, counseling, and guidance this program has been established to provide, according to a press release.

“I have been waiting for the Certificate of Formation from the Texas Secretary of State so the entity will be legally formed in accordance with the Texas Business organization Code,” Jackson said. “That has been accomplished now.”

Next is acquiring the tax-exempt status. 

“We are trying to raise the funds for it now,” Jackson said.

Ironically, the building was once the Orange School of Business giving hope for a better future to a generation. Now, it will offer hope again to a new generation.

Core services planned for the facility are: Education & Training, Shelter Services, Family Services, Youth Services, and Personal & Business Resources.