At Roof Above, we’ve helped over 1,200 people a day, 365 days a year, for over 30 years. We don’t often get to know what happens after someone moves on, so it is especially wonderful to hear a story like Chris Locklear’s which is, quite frankly, miraculous. Chris grew up in Pembroke, as part of the Lumbee tribe, in what …
After a 40-year battle with addiction, I found myself lost in the wilderness. Throughout my battle I had many half-hearted attempts at recovery, failing of course, which left me with my own feelings, emotions, cocaine and alcohol. I can remember back when the addiction started for me. It was when my wife left me. I was raised thinking marriage was …
Harrison shoplifted daily to maintain his addiction. A cycle of arrests and jail visits made him a regular within the criminal justice system. When he wasn’t spending time in jail, he was sleeping in abandoned buildings or on church steps. Harrison was very comfortable around churches. In fact, he was a pastor for 20 years. He reports one highlight of …
Although Giovanni works in 90-degree heat rolling fiber for twelve hours each evening, his attitude remains surprisingly positive. Mostly because, as he says, he is “in charge of my own life.” He didn’t always feel that way. After his family lost their home to eviction, Giovanni eventually found himself in our Statesville Shelter. For over two years. During that time, …
“A blessing is more than a gift to enjoy, it is a challenge to share.” This quote from William Sloane Coffin embodies the supporters of Urban Ministry Center who give their time and resources to help our homeless neighbors – this video shows just a few of those ways.
Urban Ministry Center provides an array of services on a path from the street to home. Our mission is to bring the community together to end homelessness, one life at a time. This overview video gives a glimpse into how we live that mission each day. Produced by Silent Images
When she saw the sign on the door, “Welcome Home, Sharon,” she began to cry. Sharon Davis had never had her own place before that moment. A space where she could calm down, reset and care for herself. Sharon moved in to Moore Place shortly after it opened in 2012. Two years later in a HousingFest interview with Executive Director …
When you enter William’s neat apartment, you can quickly identify what’s important to him – around his TV, where he watches sports non-stop, are photos of his family, his military portrait from the Marines, and an award for an outstanding donation of time to the Uptown Shelter (now the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte). After nearly 30 years on the streets, …
Every Friday, I walk into Moore Place and am greeted by a hug and smile from Von. Chances are that if you’re a regular Moore Place visitor, you’ve been greeted similarly. In addition to feeling welcomed, the time I have reading with Von and our co-book club leader, Meredith, serve as a quiet respite after what always seems to be …
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, …
Cleo is a 60-year-old, petite woman, with dark skin, eyes that sparkle and a smile that can’t help but make you do the same. Her vivacious personality, although it gets her into trouble at times, is magnetic. She is a force. When she enters a room it is impossible to not give her your undivided attention. Her voice can bring …
A typical day in the life of Eveco probably sounds familiar to most of us: Getting up, going to work, coming home, tending to household tasks, and unwinding for a little while. I visited Eveco at her workplace not long ago to see first-hand the work she’s engaged in at Secure in Motion, a local wood packaging company that designs …
Tabby’s life has been peppered with tough decisions: the decision to give her daughter to her mom to raise, the decision to leave abusive romantic relationships, and ultimately, the decision to stop using drugs and alcohol. But when Tabby talks about the tough decisions she has made in her life, she doesn’t consider herself to be a victim or blame …
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 …
What is community? What does it mean to be a member of a community? What does it take to bring communities together? As a newcomer to Charlotte, I’ve struggled with these questions as I’ve searched for my place in my new city. I realized quickly upon moving to Charlotte, that it was easy to isolate myself, to become so comfortable …
Last August, Prince sat down in my office, defeated and worn-out. After a few moments of silence, he looked up quietly and said, “Miss Heather, what do I have to do to get an apartment of my own?” Prince had been homeless for more than three years, and, like many of our neighbors, lives on a fixed income. With 2 …
Think back to your freshman year of college. You met many new faces and your life suddenly opened up to dozens of activities and services. Maybe you didn’t know your way around campus or what was required of you to succeed. In comes your trusty Resident Assistant! RAs were the ones to help smooth over this transition, by helping new …
“I won’t have to worry about watching my clothes, watching my medication; to make sure my medication isn’t getting stolen.” That was Kevin’s number one relief in receiving housing—having a safe place for his medication. In fact, stolen meds led to Kevin’s elevated blood pressure and eventually a spinal stroke, heart attack, and a wheel-chair. All while receiving dialysis three …
Alexander West had lived in cars, abandoned buildings, and he had labeled himself “a liar, a thief, unworthy.” He had used drugs and alcohol for decades before entering the SABER program in 2014. SABER was his third attempt at recovery and he credits the program with changing his life. He eventually came to understand the very first message he received …
A break from our traditional format and instead we’d like to share this recently video produced by Mic about our StreetSoccer 945 Program.
