“There are angels walking this earth – and she’s one of them,” Mr. Washington says about his case manager, Connie. They’ve been working together since she helped get him into housing about two years ago – during the early days of the pandemic.  “It was so eerie on the streets back then,” he recalls. “No people. No nothing. It was …

“I love what I do,” says Turquandra, affectionately known as “Ms. T.” As the supervisor of our Statesville campus, she oversees both the Howard Levine Men’s Shelter, with 164 reserved beds, and the Lucille Giles Emergency Shelter, with 116 unreserved beds. Whether it’s providing basic services like meals, showers and laundry or helping guests find housing and employment, she and …

By Hannah Stutts:  There are some dates that never leave your memory–your partner’s birthday, wedding anniversaries, the day a loved one has passed. February 18, 2021, is one of those dates for me but it marks a very different moment in time. It’s the date that began the eviction of the 200-plus individuals living in what became known as the …

Moore Place resident Kenny has two favorite words during football season: ROLL TIDE! Sports have always been a healthy distraction for Kenny. They’ve helped him move beyond some of the difficulties he’s faced in life.   A lifelong fan of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, Kenny came close to achieving his dream of playing football under legendary coach Bear Bryant. But during Kenny’s …

“If we can pull together as people, we could make this city shine like no other,” says Kanila, who moved into SECU The Rise on Clanton earlier this year. One of his favorite things about having a home again is being able to cook for himself. A recent evening found him frying pork chops and boiling green beans in the …

“I do a great job,” says Heather, smiling with pride. Every weekday, she rises at 5 a.m. She walks 20 minutes and catches a 6:40 a.m. bus so she arrives by 7 a.m. at Red Robin restaurant near Northlake Mall. Heather is responsible for cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping and mopping the floor, and taking out the trash so the restaurant …

“There are angels walking this earth – and she’s one of them,” Mr. Washington says about his case manager, Connie. They’ve been working together since she helped get him into housing about two years ago – during the early days of the pandemic.  “It was so eerie on the streets back then,” he recalls. “No people. No nothing. It was …

Deborah has always been a hard worker. Despite having a full-time job in finance, she knew her heart was tugging her to do something more. “I was looking for a way to help somebody without necessarily becoming a social worker,” she explains. So, seventeen years ago, she started working weekends at the Salvation Army Center of Hope.  Two years ago, …

Becca Smythe is passionate about helping kids grow and learn. She also has a heart for people experiencing homelessness. Becca noticed many children could use some help learning proper etiquette for using cell phones. So, she decided to do something – and to do it for a good cause!    She’s written a simple book titled Sammy Cell Phone. The content …

I have been thinking about the dual role housing plays in the work of Roof Above. For half of the Roof Above team, housing is the finish line. For those who work in our shelters and Day Services Center, the focus is on the moment when someone signs a lease and is handed a key. One life at a time, …

Jaleel knows his strength is in his story. “You’re not supposed to keep what you know inside,” he says. “It’s not meant for you. It’s meant for other people.” From serving in the Marine Corps to preaching in the pulpit, Jaleel brings a wealth of experience to his work as a Tenant Support Specialist at SECU The Rise on Clanton. …

Last week, we celebrated the volunteers who applied some coats of fresh paint to spruce up our SABER transitional housing. One of the residents who’ll get to enjoy that work is Scott.    As a teenager, Scott dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. Standing six feet, nine inches tall, his height and talent helped him earn a full scholarship to …

Dwayne President has found his purpose working at the North Tryon Men’s Shelter. “This is where I belong,” he says. “My life is a ministry.” He has turned his past struggles into his most precious asset: empathy.  “These guys know I’m authentic,” he says. “They know I don’t judge them. They know where I come from, and they know my …

“It’s changed my mindset,” Brian says about working with Roof Above to convert a former hotel into studio apartments. He used to assume homelessness was the result of poor choices. “I’ve learned that nobody chooses to be homeless. It’s not about bad decisions. Usually, there’s some type of trauma or an event you can trace it to and say here’s …

When Cedric works with our shelter guests, he draws on lessons he learned from his father. “He was awesome – intelligent, self-educated. He would read the Sunday paper from the first page to the last.”  Cedric says his dad taught him things like how to use tools, how to save and how to pay bills. “He taught me about duct …

Elizabeth has always been a caregiver. “I like to take care of people,” she says. “My mom was a nurse.”  Almost six years ago, she met the love of her life. Elizabeth and her fiancé, James, lived in a tent together. “He loved his scratch-off lottery tickets,” she laughs. “He loved to fish. We could almost finish each other’s sentences.”   …

Vincent lived in Winston-Salem for most of his adult life. Charles lived in New York City. Vincent worked for Tyson Foods and Sara Lee. Charles drove a truck for 30 years. Then mold in Vincent’s apartment drove him out and sent him to the hospital. Charles’ girlfriend passed away from a seizure and he couldn’t afford to stay in their …

Sharing Information and Inspiration to Welcome Everyone Home  Over the past decade, Charlotte has earned national media attention for creating housing solutions that work. Now there’s a resource to help leaders in other cities learn from our experience.   The website for Project Roof CLT shares a powerfully simple message: the proven solution to homelessness is housing.   Public-private partnerships in Charlotte …

This weekend we take a moment to pay tribute to all mothers. Please know that your love, support, encouragement and words of wisdom leave an indelible impression on those around you. Happy Mother’s Day ❤️ “My grandmama taught me how to live, and my mama taught me how to love,” says David. As he celebrates his first Mother’s Day weekend …

Our SABER program offers substance use treatment to men experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction. The program combines three months of treatment therapy with six months of continuing care. Here’s a story from Arthur, a program participant:   “I was born on December 16, 1957, in Washington, D.C. I had three older brothers who were selling and using drugs, so at …

“Over the course of a lifetime, there are a few dozen moments that will stand out – moments that represent a shift in your world. One of those moments for me happened when I was leading our street outreach team, shortly after my son was born. We had been offering our services to a man who was living inside of …