About Roof Above
Housing is the solution to homelessness.
Roof Above exemplifies both our aspirations and the actions we take to end homelessness;
to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable roof above their head.
Roof Above is an interfaith nonprofit.
OUR MISSION
To unite the community to end homelessness, one life at a time.OUR STORY
Roof Above was born out of the merger of Urban Ministry Center and Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, two prominent organizations long recognized as community leaders in homeless services.
In May 2019, our legacy organizations combined services to become a new organization with added resources, talent, and a unified voice that could move the needle on ending homelessness.
Today, Roof Above is a comprehensive homeless service provider serving 1,200 people per day through a spectrum of services ranging from street outreach, day services, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing.
We unite communities to end homelessness, one life at a time.
OUR VISION
Every person has the safety, stability, and dignity of a home.OUR VALUES
Heart for the Work
- We choose this work and embrace this place.
- We practice radical compassion.
- We each do our unique part to end homelessness.
Solution-Oriented
- Grounding ourselves in what we know, we imagine what is possible.
- We are intentional about getting the right people involved and we move towards effective action.
- We are exhaustive in our search for solutions.
Bring Our Best
- We practice self-care, self-awareness, and safety.
- We recognize what we need to let go of to move forward.
- We exercise diligence and grit.
Value Others
- We honor the profound worth of each life, and our work reflects it.
- We meet people where they are and approach others with genuine curiosity.
- We know we cannot do it alone. We are stronger and smarter together.
1979
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church opens its soup kitchen.1987
“George Shinn Men’s Shelter”, later “Uptown Men’s Shelter” opens – first year-round emergency shelter2005
Emergency Winter Shelter gets a permanent new home at 3410 Statesville Ave2009
Uptown Men’s Shelter & Emergency Winter Shelter merge, becoming “Men’s Shelter of Charlotte”2012
Men’s Shelter of Charlotte expands into the housing through Rapid Rehousing2018
N. Tryon Shelter Renovated
2020
New name “Roof Above” announced1980-81
3 men freeze to death on the streets that winter. Faith community responds by opening “Emergency Winter Shelter”1994
Urban Ministry Center created as a partnership of uptown congregations and businesses in the old Seaboard train depot. St. Peter’s soup kitchen relocated to this location2006
Urban Ministry Center expands into the housing through SABER program2012
Moore Place opens first Housing First apartment complex in Charlotte2015
Urban Ministry Center selected to lead “Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” community’s effort to end chronic homelessness. “Housing First Charlotte Mecklenburg” scattered site project began shortly after.2019
April 30th, Urban Ministry Center & Men’s Shelter of Charlotte officially merge!Roof Above Leadership
Board of Directors
- Chair, Chris Schaaf, JLL
- Vice-Chair, Harry Redd, Bank of America
- Treasurer, David Goldberg, PwC
- Secretary, Joy Patterson, Accenture
- Curtis Bodison, Fifth Third Bank
- Sarah Charles, Dixon Hughes Goodman
- Gary Chesson, Trinity Capital Advisors
- Ron Clark, Camino
- Russ Daniel, Grant Thornton
- Steven Durant, Community Volunteer
- Mark Ethridge, Ascent Real Estate Capital
- Randy Franklin, Terazo
- Jeff Gignac, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
- David Harker, Harker
- Collin Lane, Atrium Health
- Greg Lewis, Honeywell
- Deems May, Queens Oak Advisors
- Stacey McCray, Bojangles
- Meg Robertson, Macvian Partners
- Chuck Stauffer, Cresa
- Brent Torstrick, Robinson Bradshaw
- Caroline Hubbell Yingling, Moore&VanAllen
