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 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 shelter.2005
Emergency Winter Shelter gets a permanent new home at 3410 Statesville Ave.2009
Uptown Men’s Shelter & Emergency Winter Shelter merge, becoming Men’s Shelter of Charlotte.2012
Men’s Shelter of Charlotte expands into housing through Rapid Rehousing.2018
N. Tryon Shelter renovated.
2020
New name Announced: Roof Above1980-81
3 men freeze to death on the streets that winter. Faith community responds by opening the 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 location.2006
Urban Ministry Center expands into housing through SABER program.2012
Moore Place opens first Housing First apartment complex in Charlotte.2015
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
Key Staff
- Liz Clasen-Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
- Veronica Ritchie, Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Kaedon Grinnell, Chief Program Officer
- Tonya Frye, Chief Financial Officer
- Stephen Vinski, VP of Facilities
- Randall Hitt, Vice President of Engagement
- Joanne Cain, Vice President of Shelter Services
- Joann Markley, Vice President of Scattered-Site
- Tamacia Bing, Vice President of Human Resources
- Gena Robinson, Vice President of Single Site Housing
- Melinda Wilshire, Vice President of Communications
Board of Directors
- Chair, Harry Redd, Bank of America
- Vice-Chair, Joy Patterson, Accenture
- Treasurer, David Goldberg, PwC
- Secretary, Meg Robertson, Macvian Partners
- Elena Airapetian, Experis
- Paula Bird, Novant Health
- Curtis Bodison, Truist
- Gary Chesson, Community Volunteer
- Ron Clark, Camino Health Center
- Russ Daniel, Grant Thornton
- Mark Ethridge, Ascent Real Estate Capital
- Randy Franklin, Terazo
- Jeff Gignac, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
- Collin Lane, Atrium Health
- Greg Lewis, Honeywell
- Deems May, MAI
- Stacey McCray, Bojangles
- Matt Miller, Shelco
- Chris Schaaf, JLL
- Chinette Stevenson, Microsoft
- Glenn Stewart, Community Volunteer
- Brent Torstrick, Robinson Bradshaw
- Caroline Hubbell Yingling, Moore & Van Allen
