The St. Mary's Health Center Medical and Dental Clinic in Wilmington, N.C., was recently served with an eviction notice by the Basilica of St. Mary, WECT reported Aug. 25.
The health center is the city's only surgical dental clinic that provides free services to low-income patients and has been open for more than 30 years, WECT reported.
Volunteers at the center said they received a notice in April to vacate the building by July 1 with no explanation. Laura Vinson, executive director at the clinic, said the center had to stay open past the deadline because the staff couldn’t find a place to relocate and because the center still had patients to serve.
Ms. Vinson said staff noticed several changes at the building since it stayed past its deadline up until it was served with the eviction notice Aug. 23, including locks to the administrative office and patient bathrooms being changed.
The center is reportedly working with an attorney to help them fight the eviction notice.
The Diocese of Raleigh did not respond to WECT's requests for comment.
A court date for the eviction is scheduled for Sept. 4.