A Swift Community Response When severe thunderstorms collapsed the roof of our primary unsheltered services building, the Hub, some services were available within hours. But the shower and laundry facilities built into the Hub were harder to replace. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness count on our Day Services Center (DSC) to offer showers and laundry as a source of hygiene and …
When severe thunderstorms overnight on July 7 damaged and closed the Hub building at our Day Services Center, we were determined to continue providing essential services to our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Our team swiftly began relocating staff and services to the Depot Building, also at 945 N. College Street. The Hub was constructed to be our primary services building, including …
Irving Bienstock, in blessed memory, lived with a deep understanding of the moral imperative. He fled the Nazis, alone, at age twelve. He was uprooted first from his childhood home in Dortmund Germany, where he would never return, then from Amsterdam, the city he found solace in, which would soon fall to the Third Reich. He came to America, and …
Roof Above and Atrium Health Begin a New Chaplaincy Training Partnership In October 2024, a dream came to life at Roof Above. The first cohort of Atrium Health Chaplaincy Interns began their rotation at Roof Above’s shelter and housing locations! Director of Education Joe Hamby says that he and CEO Liz Clasen Kelly had long asked themselves: “How could a …
The numbers are staggering. 500: the number of bag lunches provided EVERY DAY by volunteers for Roof Above shelter programs. 3,500: the number of bag lunches provided EACH WEEK for our friends in dorms, motels, and winter shelter. That’s more lunches than a child carries to school from kindergarten through high school graduation! Wait, there’s more! A typical lunch includes …
What is the backbone of Room In The Inn? It is our host sites. RITI would not exist without the involvement of our host sites which provide a home where our neighbors can feel safe, have a hot meal and most important … be treated as they deserve— as a member of the Charlotte community. This month, Holy Comforter let …
Neighbors using Room In The Inn (RITI) this season ranged in age from 5 months old to 89 years old, and that’s really the story of RITI and our community. As affordable housing continues to be out of reach for so many, we are seeing increased numbers of families and older adults. A single man arrived with his 7-month old …
Diversity, community, and storytelling have become common buzzwords as of late. Flying around, circling in, out, and through our conversations. And for good reason. The power that comes through putting these words into action can create lasting change. On March 2nd, at Urban Ministry Center, these three words came to life through the power of art. Local artist Edwin Gil, …
It’s hard to believe, but we’re half way through the Room In The Inn season! The numbers are in and the hard work of volunteers at over 100 host sites have made them possible.
For over a decade, the community garden at our College Street campus has provided nourishment for the spirit and the body, for both neighbors and volunteers alike; but last year it began to offer a new purpose and importance for UMC programs. As the recreational therapist for our SABER (Substance Abuse Education & Recovery) program, Laura McCarthy helps men in …
Byron was 20 years old and attending CPCC studying small business with the support of his mom, when she became ill in 2007. He quit school to care for her, but in 2009 she had to be moved to a nursing home where she passed away soon after. The house was willed to Byron, but he was unfortunately unable to …
Ten years ago Sandy Vermillion, Carol Rousey, Roger Coates, and their fellow church members attended a work day at the Urban Ministry Center’s College Street Campus. While serving, they met new staff member Joann Markley who told them about a brand new program, Homeless To Homes, that could really use their support. On that day in 2008 a new partnership …
Everyone’s experienced something ‘going around’ at work or school before—suddenly it feels like half your staff is out sick. That happens here at the Urban Ministry Center College Street campus sometimes, but what almost always happens simultaneously is that we see sick neighbors too. And while we usually have over-the-counter medications to help them–pain relievers, cold and flu medicine, cough …
Imagine seeing your own artwork framed up on Tryon Street for all to see! ArtWorks 945 artist Kevin had just that pleasure recently when the McColl Center for Art + Innovation included a print of his painting on their signs. Kevin created the piece with McColl Center artist-in-residence, Marion Wilson. She talks about the collaboration in the McColl Center blog, …
You can see from the smiles that October’s Wellness Challenge Picnic is a much anticipated event for many Moore Place tenants! From June to September, tenants collect badges by participating in one of the 7-8 wellness opportunities offered each week—art, yoga, cooking, walking, etc. Collect four badges for the month and they are invited to a Wellness Reception with a …
On Wednesday, June 15, Moore Place opened 35 new apartments to house chronically homeless citizens of Charlotte. These remarks are from that celebration. Thanks to Rachel Fesko for photographing the event. Good morning! My name is Caroline Chambre Hammock, and I serve as the Associate Executive Director for the Urban Ministry Center. In 2012, I had the great pleasure of welcoming you …
Some time ago, Moore Place tenant Kenneth Dill began volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank. What began as a notion to volunteer a couple of days each week developed into so much more. From the start, Kenny recognized the significant impact Second Harvest was having within Charlotte and beyond. “There’s over 900 agencies in North and South Carolina that we …
Carmel Presbyterian Church is one of many houses of faith that provides shelter and fellowship for our neighbors during Room In The Inn. This article is from “The Carmel Letter,” and reprinted with Ed’s permission. The recent Room In The Inn session on January 18 was a real blessing for me. Boy Scout Troop #79 prepared and served a very …
The foundation of our organization, the Soup Kitchen, embodies our mission like no other. It truly brings the community together to serve our homeless neighbors and it provides an environment of trust and relationship building to end homelessness. No Barriers A primary tenet of Urban Ministry Center is to offer programs with very low or no barriers to service. Literally …
Many nonprofits have holiday honor cards like Urban Ministry Center, but we think we may have one of the oldest traditions of production. We began offering them as a beautiful way to acknowledge honor gifts in 1999, when artist Ingrid Amol’s sketched our beloved Train Depot. As a volunteer, Ingrid helped create the ArtWorks 945 program, and in 2002 we …
On a humid day in July, six Cadettes from Girl Scout Troop 1513 braved the heat and walked over two miles around Charlotte in the character of Kimberly, a homeless runaway, and Angela, a homeless mother. They were doing Walk in My Shoes, Urban Ministry Center’s educational program that helps participants understand the day to day life of someone who …