LUMBERTON — The founder of a home for veterans at 801 E. Seventh St. says the owner of the property wants to put those veterans who can’t pay rent back out on the streets.

But Mary Hill, the owner of New Life Services, a private business that provides mental health and other services to adults and children in Lumberton, says she has no intention of putting the veterans. She says she just wants to guarantee that she gets the money she deserves as owner of the property.

Karla Carter, founder of the veterans home, recently told The Robesonian that Hill wants to turn the home into a boarding house where those veterans who can pay their share of the monthly $800 rent can stay, but those who cannot will have to leave. Carter alleges that Hill’s actions — including trying to ban her from the property despite her having a lease until February — have so upset the six veterans living at the home that they are becoming ill.

“I just want to continue taking care of my veterans and bringing dignity into their lives. I promised these men that they would be cared for and I’m going to do it,” Carter said. “These men have been through a lot. They all have mental and physical problems that need to be addressed ... I saw a glow in that house before. Now all I see is sadness. She (Hill) has destroyed the dignity they had two weeks ago. They don’t know who they can trust.”

Carter opened the home in December. She and her assistant Lecinda Thompson, both employees of New Life Services until earlier this month, have assisted the veterans in handling personal affairs — obtaining VA benefits, getting to doctors appointments, and making sure that all medications are taken. Both say they have spent money out of their own pockets to make sure all of the needs of the home’s residents are met.

“We are like one big family,” Carter said. “We look after each other.”

Both Carter and Thompson have recently been fired by Hill. In addition, Carter has been arrested and removed from the property for allegedly trespassing. She will face trespassing charges in Robeson County District Court on Monday.

Carter said that Hill wants to dismember the veterans home because she contends she is losing money. But, Carter said, this can’t be true because Hill has not had to pay anything for maintaining the home.

Hill says that she has lost money during the time the home has been open. She notes that her expenses have included utilities, supplying a van for transporting the veterans, the cost of salaries for both Carter and Thompson, and other expenses related to operating and maintaining the home. She also says that Carter has been collecting the rent from the veterans but not paying her.

Hill acknowledges that she fired Carter and Thompson because she couldn’t afford to keep paying them as New Life Services employees. She also said that Carter was fired because she had lied on her resume about her educational background and that she had been “insubordinate.” Hill did not elaborate on the charge of insubordination.

“The VA home is still being supported by New Life, but it has to become self-sufficient,” Hill said. “We have a social worker who is now assisting the veterans at the home. We are helping — and will continue to help — wherever we can.”

During a recent interview The Robesonian was told by veterans that their lives had improved since Carter brought them to Lumberton. They said they now have a place to “call home.”

“We don’t want to leave. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we are like a family here,” said Jerry Brown, a Navy veteran originally from Kentucky. “Miss Carter goes 110 percent to help us and make sure we have everything we need.”

Enoch McNeill, a U.S. Army veteran, recalled how Carter found him last November in a hotel near Fayetteville, covered with sores and suffering from kidney problems, diabetes and complications from infections. He was confined entirely to a wheelchair because a gangrenous leg had been amputated.

“My quality of life has improved over a year ago,” McNeill said, noting that in the past month, with the help of an artificial leg, he walked for the first time in five years.

Carter said that she is being supported in her efforts to keep the home open and serve the residents by both the Robeson County Black Caucus and the county’s chapter of the NAACP. Also several churches, such as Hyde Park Baptist, have been supporting the home, she said.

“She is doing a great job. She has an excellent program there,” said Jimmy Gilchrist, president of the Black Caucus. “We want to do everything we can to help her.”

Carter and Thompson are now looking for a new home where they can move the veterans.

“There’s such a big need. There’s so many veterans that need help,” she said.