A vacant hotel in Jacksonville could be getting a new purpose.

The owner of the Red Carpet Inn voluntarily shut down the hotel after it had two fires, leading to the state and city getting involved in 2019.

It has been vacant ever since, but now, United Way of Onslow County members want to turn it into transitional housing.

They said it would help different disadvantaged groups in the community. That could be homeless veterans, people coming home after incarceration, young adults exiting foster care and more.