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 …
Kay Ethridge is a powerhouse of compassion. An accomplished artist, mother, and philanthropist, Kay began volunteering at Roof Above in 2002, with her two kids and a kiln in tow. Evidence of Kay’s impact is sprinkled throughout Roof Above campuses, through ceramics dotting our walls and brightening our days. Her work started with a grant from her church, Myers Park …
Welcome to Forest Point Place! “It is Roof Above’s profound privilege to serve as the operator of this vision for Mecklenburg County, this vision to reimagine existing hotels into supportive housing to serve our vulnerable older adults experiencing homelessness in this community. Forest Point Place is a symbol of new life. For our tenants, it’s a door. It’s a key. …
“Housing is the answer but not the end of the work.” ~Amy Warner “Nurse Amy” is part of our Roof Above team specializing in the Scattered Site model of permanent supportive housing (PSH) where formerly homeless individuals live in existing apartments in the Charlotte community. Supportive services for these tenants include case management, obtaining benefits, and help with medical needs. …
At Roof Above we celebrate every time someone moves into housing. This month we also celebrate the 9th anniversary of Moore Place, which first opened its doors nine years ago to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Since January 2012, nearly 300 of Charlotte’s most vulnerable neighbors have been welcomed home to Moore Place. While many have …
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 …
Nate Johnson describes himself as an adventurer, an explorer. As a young man he traveled in Europe, visiting Rome, Luxembourg, and points in between. He worked in the plumbing trade for 20 years in New York and Pennsylvania and likes to be independent and take care of his own business. But a failed marriage and the loss of his father, …
“Did you know that…” O’Donald Gaither enjoys a visitor’s company and is good at keeping the conversation going, a skill of his generation before the arrival of social media. He estimates his age at 85 years and he has lived them all in Charlotte. Mr. Gaither grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood, a vibrant African-American community that was razed for …
For men whose path out of homelessness is employment, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a little bit of luck. According to Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” In the past, the Tryon Street and Statesville Avenue men’s shelters responded to high demand by increasing capacity, beds close together and mats on the floors. Warm and dry …
When Room In The Inn (RITI) was abruptly suspended in March due to COVID-19, hundreds of people who depended on the program were suddenly unsheltered. A triage plan was enacted to help them determine quick alternatives. Rick Spreitzer volunteered to help counsel individuals and help them “get linked to the next best thing: Do you have a family member or …
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 …
“911, do you need Police, Fire or Medic?” “I need an ambulance for a man who says he is having chest pains.” Not a typical Room In The Inn night at Avondale Presbyterian Church. Jim, the overnight host, had noticed that Walter had enjoyed his dinner and conversation but was now moaning in the men’s room. Jim wanted to respect …
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, …
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 …
Earlier this summer, the ArtWorks945 studio engaged with community members to paint our campus benches. Artists designed their own bench and were encouraged to lead our guests in implementing their designs. It was a creative and empowering moment for our artists and volunteers, helping to bridge the gap between the housed and unhoused. You’ll find all the benches at our …
As a Room In The Inn volunteer, I worked with Andy and his forever friend, Sandy. The following is Andy’s story as I know it. When I walk down the street, no one will look me directly in the eye. Are they thinking I will ask for money or are they afraid of me? Do they think my clothes look …
Room In The Inn helps people experiencing homelessness by coordinating emergency shelter in partnership with faith organizations during the winter months. .. but this story is not about statistics or the number of homeless individuals that have been helped by this program. It is about the people. Over the next few months, you will hear about Room In The Inn …
We are committed to housing Charlotte’s most vulnerable population, those experiencing chronic homelessness—those who are most likely to die on the streets. We meet hundreds of people at our College Street campus each day, and our Neighbor Services team works to connect people with the basic services, referrals, and housing assistance they need. But, there are many who never walk …
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 …