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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
The Street Outreach Team and volunteers hit the streets of Uptown once a month starting at 9:00 PM to get a pulse on how many people are sleeping in Uptown, and who they are. It’s a chance to talk to people before they’re asleep, but after they’ve settled in for the night. While the neighbors are always surprised to see …
“I just want to sit on my own couch,” Tom said, wondering why it was so hard to get to that place. He is tired. When Tom was younger than his 50+ years he thought it was cool to have adventures, to travel the country. His favorite place had been Idaho where he worked on a potato farm and nearby …
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 …
We seldom receive phone calls from London here at the Urban Ministry Center, but that’s what happened one day a few weeks ago. She said her name was Sayo Ayodele and she was with Leaders’ Quest, an international leadership development organization based in London, New York and Singapore. She said she had been reading about us and wanted to visit …