people
On any given night, there are approximately 2,014 people, including those in families, experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Countysource. Lack of affordable housing and insufficient income contribute to this epidemic of homelessness. While homelessness does not discriminate, certain groups of people are more vulnerable. Which group can you help?
By clicking on one of the puzzle pieces above, you are taking a crucial first step to end homelessness in Charlotte. Educate yourself on the existing efforts, then get involved with one of the agencies listed with each puzzle piece and make a difference.

Survivors of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness among families. That’s because survivors are often isolated from support networks and financial resources by their abusers. An estimated 200 survivors of domestic violence are homeless in Charlotte-Mecklenburg on any given nightsource.

Disabled

Physical/mental health disabilities and substance dependence often act as barriers to obtaining or maintaining housing. For some, these disabilities are major obstacles on the path out of homelessness. An estimated ten percent of the homeless population experience long-term homelessness in addition to their disabling conditionsource.

A Child's Place of Charlotte

A Child's Place (ACP) works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Lunch or Breakfast Buddy
    Lunch Buddies provide a mentoring friendship for the children. Each volunteer is assigned a student to be their “buddy.�? The volunteer comes to school once a week to have lunch with their buddy, talk, play games or read.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Lunch Buddy For a Day
    This program allows a group to get a feel for what being a lunch buddy or tutor would be like. The day starts off with a presentation about A Child’s Place and other community resources for the underprivileged in our community. This is followed by lunch with a group of client children and then a group session afterwards to discuss your experiences.

  • Donate Items
    A Child's Place client children are always in need of:

    • Uniforms (sizes 4T-Adult) for boys and girls
      blue/khaki pants, skirts, shorts and white button-up shirts
    • Other Clothing
      underwear, socks, bras (all sizes)
    • Hygiene Items
      toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion, chap stick, feminine hygiene napkins
    • School Supplies
      rulers, pencils (lead and mechanic), pens, loose leaf paper, spiral notebooks, composition books, erasers, glue, markers, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, scissors, protractors, calculators, folders, binders, combination locks, hand sanitizer, hand soap, facial tissues
    • Snacks
      Individually pre-packaged nonperishable items including – Juice Boxes, Fruit Snacks, Fruit Cups, Raisins, Breakfast bars, crackers, pretzels, cookies, granola bars, yogurt snacks, goldfish crackers, individual cereal boxes
    • ITEMS WE DO NOT TAKE
      ANY USED ITEMS (even gently used) including clothes, stuffed animals which may be donated to Crisis Assistance Ministries or Salvation Army; homemade snacks, etc.
    • EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS
      Please contact (704) 943-9532 to discuss.

Charlotte Family Housing

Our mission is to empower homeless families to achieve long-term self-sufficiency through shelter, housing, support services and advocacy.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Volunteers are needed to serve as overnight hosts Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at each shelter site. Overnight hosts arrive at 8:00 p.m. and can leave after 6:30 a.m. the next morning. We offer a private room with a private bath for our volunteers, as well as WIFI, a private TV and coffee. Serving as an overnight host saves CFH over $100 per night at each of our shelter sites, and is a critical volunteer need for our program.
  • family-friendly opportunity
  • Background screening required for overnight volunteers.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Groups and individuals are needed to organize activities for children, maintain the landscaping and assist with regular deep cleaning of the facilities. Volunteers are welcome to suggest other activities where they can share their gifts and talents.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • In-Kind Donations
    Welcome basket items, which are given to families when they enter one of our shelters and are taken with them when they move into housing, including full/twin sheet sets, full/twin comforters, bath towels, plate sets, utensils and pots and pans.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Our mission is to remove barriers for homeless students to enroll, attend, and succeed in school.


  • Make An In-Kind Donation
    McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
    Transportation passes are needed for parents to attend school events and for high school students who stay after school for tutoring.

  • Volunteer As An Individual
    McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
    There are homeless students identified in 98% of CMS schools. Reach out to your local school to see how you can offer support.

Charlotte Rescue Mission

Our mission is to minister the Good News of Christianity to individuals caught in the crisis of poverty, hopelessness or addictions by meeting their spiritual, physical and emotional needs.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Resident Tutor
    Tutors work with our residents on basic reading and math skills, as well as with those working toward successful completion of their GED.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Dove's Nest
    Groups assist with meal preparation and service for our residents, which includes the opportunity to fellowship with our residents. Opportunities are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days per week. Financial sponsorship of meals is greatly appreciated, but not required.

  • Donate Items
    • Shower shoes are needed for both men and women.
    • Full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion are needed for both men and women.
    • Disposable razors are needed for both men and women.
    • CATS bus passes are needed for all residents, allowing them to search for employment.
    • Flash drives (16 GB and up) are needed for all residents to store educational and work related documents.
    • Sets of Twin XL sheets are needed.
    • Laundry PODS are needed for resident use.
    • Combination locks are needed for all residents.
    • Standard pillows are needed for all residents.

The Salvation Army

The Charlotte Area Command of The Salvation Army is a diverse team of community volunteers, Officers, and staff who are passionately committed to meeting urgent human needs while offering hope, dignity, and the opportunity for self-reliance and determination in the name of Christ, without discrimination.


  • Volunteer As A Group
    The Salvation Army Center of Hope
    Coordinate a group activity for the children - crafts/games.
  • family-friendly opportunity
  • Under 18 years old must be chaperoned by an adult.

  • Donate Items
    The Salvation Army Center of Hope
    We rely on donations to provide the following items to all homeless women and children who enter the Center of Hope emergergcy shelter. Diapers (all sizes), toiletries (shampoo, soap, deodorant), blankets, sheets.
  • family-friendly opportunity

The Housing Partnership

Our mission is to expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low and moderate income families with a continuing interest in the ability of occupants to more fully enter the economic mainstream.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Office Work
    Assistance with office work, such as copying, filing, etc.
  • Must be 18+ and able to pass a background check.

  • Donate Items
    Funds
    Funds for housing programs.

YWCA Central Carolinas

YWCA Central Carolinas is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    YWCA Families Together
    One-to-one tutoring for adults or children (ie. GED preparation, tutoring in math or reading, assistance with homework).
  • Adult volunteers are welcome! Volunteer Applications and Confidentiality Policy Agreements should be completed and submitted to YWCA Volunteer Coordinator well in advance of volunteer session. Adult background-checks will also be conducted.

  • Donate Items
    YWCA Families Together
    Twin and queen sheet sets (fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillowcase), twin and queen mattress pads, standard pillows, twin and queen blankets, towel sets, shower mats, shampoo/conditioner 2-in-1 sets, shower gel/shower loofahs, body lotion, dental floss, cutlery, cookware, glass/plastic ware.
  • family-friendly opportunity
  • New items only please!

Legal Aid of North Carolina

Our mission is to provide free legal services in critical civil matters to very low-income people in Mecklenburg County, including preventing homelessness of tenants by stopping unlawful evictions and securing necessary repairs, preventing domestic violence with protective orders, assisting qualified consumers with expunctions of some criminal records and assisting consumers protect homes, autos and other critical property from seizure and sales by creditors.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Lay Housing Counselors
    The easiest volunteer opportunity for people who are not lawyers is to work as lay housing counselors in our Homeless Prevention Project. The volunteers are trained in understanding and explaining the rights of tenants under NC law. Volunteers go to Crisis Assistance Ministry on any weekday morning and speak to groups of housing consumers about their rights and make appropriate referrals.

  • Contact attorney Isaac Sturgill at 704-749-7491 for more information.

Supportive Housing Communities

Our mission is to provide affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Work in the community garden, show residents how to cook healthy food or sing in our community building choir on Thursdays.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Prepare a meal or provide a cookout for residents.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Kitchen dishes, pots and pans
    • Cleaning Supplies
    • Bedding for single and queen sized beds
    • Laundry supplies
    • Bathroom supplies (towels, shower curtains,bathmats, etc)
    • Air miles
    • Gift cards
    • Bus Passes

Hope Haven

Hope Haven, a foundation of recovery, provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Activities
    Lead and facilitate an activity, such as crafts, crochet, games, cooking class, birthday parties, etc, while providing companionship for Hope Haven residents. Volunteers coordinate ideas and activity plan with staff, lead the activity and provide general friendship and interaction with Hope Haven residents. Also as van drivers in our vans to 12 step meetings.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Community Room Partners
    Adopt one of Hope Haven's community rooms and live out a HGTV moment. Work together as a team and decide upon a room design for one of Hope Haven's community rooms, which promote socialization for residents. Volunteers will purchase all of the needed items and spend a day or two decorating the room.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Hygiene items
    • New or clean linens and towels
    • Tutoring resources (reading, flashcards & math workbooks grades 1-9)
    • Phonics workbooks
    • Tools
    • Pocket Dictionaries
    • Recovery Books (AA/NA)
    • Car in good condition for transporting residents

Community Link

Our mission is to enable individuals and families to obtain and sustain safe, decent and affordable housing.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Guest Services Member
    Availability: M-F, 8-5; times vary
    If you enjoy greeting and talking with people, this is the role for you! We look for enthusiastic individuals to help manage our front desk. For consistency, we ask for a commitment of at least once a week for at least two hours.

  • Committee Service
    Availability: Ongoing, monthly
    Serving behind-the-scenes might be your passion. If so, we hope you'll consider sharing your time and expertise on one of our organizational committees (audit, endowment, finance, human resources, marketing/development, strategic planning, Sweet Escapes Special Event). Meeting times are limited, but your involvement is priceless. You'll offer feedback and insight to help develop, guide, and strengthen Community Link. And, it's a great networking opportunity!

  • Tax Aide
    Availability: Yearly - Jan.-April
    Site Coordinator
    Quality Reviewer
    Tax Preparer
    Greeter
    Interpreter
    Scheduler
    Intern

    Training: 16-24 hour classroom training or online self-study for most positions. Must pass volunteer certification.

    The first answer to your question is no - you don't need to be a tax attorney to lend your time as a Tax Aide. But yes to making a positive impact on the lives of seniors and low-income individuals and families. You'll complete basic tax returns for a targeted population in our community that are challenged to pay out of pocket for these services. Training is provided. Maybe not wanting to file taxes? Other opportunities include appointment setters, greeters, and site coordinators as well.

  • Financial Coach
    Availability: Ongoing, monthly

    Training: Up to two hour orientation, provided the third Thursday of each month.
    Stretch a mind to exercise good financial decisions! You'll pair with a Community Link customer to mentor them on basic financial decision-making and help that individual build a better future. A certified financial advisor is not who you need to be - rather, you'll become a trusted friend to join a customer on their journey to self-sufficiency.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Welcome Crew
    Welcome a formerly homeless family to their new home - with a provision of supplies. Perhaps it's a bed and bath basket; children's needs; or just basic household supplies.

    Groups enjoy collecting these treasured items knowing they'll make a huge difference in a family's life. In some cases, you might be able to make the delivery!

  • Donation Request
    Bathroom cleaner, brooms/mops, paper towels
    Laundry baskets
    Pots, pans, dishes
    Shower curtain, shower hooks
    Toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet paper
    Towels, dish cloths, dish towels

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services

Our mission is to Offers assistance to domestic victims, offenders and child witnesses as well as displaced homemakers, veterans, homeless individuals and individuals living in targeted neighborhoods.

"We strive to improve citizens' self-sufficiency, health and safety through a wide array of quality services and community partnerships."


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Homeless Resource Center
    The Homeless Resource Center partners with community organizations and faith based groups to provide meals to the homeless and help link them to other needed services. There are volunteer opportunities in this setting. Mecklenburg County partners with Hands On Charlotte and there are also opportunities through that collaboration. The Veterans Stand Down is held annually with volunteer opportunities.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Please see above.

  • Donate Items
    We collaborate with community organizations who donate such items for the homeless and for veterans.

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    HERC Volunteer
    Housing & Employment Resource Center

    Assist clients in searching for employment and housing via the internet. Assist clients in obtaining foundation documents (i.e. birth certificate, NC ID, social security card, or credit report). Opportunities from 9:00am - 10:00pm (2-6 hour increments).
  • All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Kitchen/Meal Service Volunteer
    Volunteers will assist in preparing and serving the meal. Groups of 7-12 volunteers are needed for each meal served. The Men's Shelter of Charlotte serves 3 meals every day of the week.
  • All volunteers must be 18 or older unless previously approved by the Community Resource Coordinator. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Donate Items
    Clothing items:

    • (New) Men’s Underwear (Boxers or Briefs Sizes M-5XL)
    • (New) Men’s T-Shirts (Undershirts) (Sizes M-5XL)
    • Men's Socks
    • Hats, Gloves, Coats

Hope Haven

Hope Haven, a foundation of recovery, provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Activities
    Lead and facilitate an activity, such as crafts, crochet, games, cooking class, birthday parties, etc, while providing companionship for Hope Haven residents. Volunteers coordinate ideas and activity plan with staff, lead the activity and provide general friendship and interaction with Hope Haven residents. Also as van drivers in our vans to 12 step meetings.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Community Room Partners
    Adopt one of Hope Haven's community rooms and live out a HGTV moment. Work together as a team and decide upon a room design for one of Hope Haven's community rooms, which promote socialization for residents. Volunteers will purchase all of the needed items and spend a day or two decorating the room.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Hygiene items
    • New or clean linens and towels
    • Tutoring resources (reading, flashcards & math workbooks grades 1-9)
    • Phonics workbooks
    • Tools
    • Pocket Dictionaries
    • Recovery Books (AA/NA)
    • Car in good condition for transporting residents

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services

Our mission is to Offers assistance to domestic victims, offenders and child witnesses as well as displaced homemakers, veterans, homeless individuals and individuals living in targeted neighborhoods.

"We strive to improve citizens' self-sufficiency, health and safety through a wide array of quality services and community partnerships."


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Homeless Resource Center
    The Homeless Resource Center partners with community organizations and faith based groups to provide meals to the homeless and help link them to other needed services. There are volunteer opportunities in this setting. Mecklenburg County partners with Hands On Charlotte and there are also opportunities through that collaboration. The Veterans Stand Down is held annually with volunteer opportunities.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Please see above.

  • Donate Items
    We collaborate with community organizations who donate such items for the homeless and for veterans.

Legal Aid of North Carolina

Our mission is to provide free legal services in critical civil matters to very low-income people in Mecklenburg County, including preventing homelessness of tenants by stopping unlawful evictions and securing necessary repairs, preventing domestic violence with protective orders, assisting qualified consumers with expunctions of some criminal records and assisting consumers protect homes, autos and other critical property from seizure and sales by creditors.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Lay Housing Counselors
    The easiest volunteer opportunity for people who are not lawyers is to work as lay housing counselors in our Homeless Prevention Project. The volunteers are trained in understanding and explaining the rights of tenants under NC law. Volunteers go to Crisis Assistance Ministry on any weekday morning and speak to groups of housing consumers about their rights and make appropriate referrals.

  • Contact attorney Isaac Sturgill at 704-749-7491 for more information.

A Child's Place of Charlotte

A Child's Place (ACP) works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Lunch or Breakfast Buddy
    Lunch Buddies provide a mentoring friendship for the children. Each volunteer is assigned a student to be their “buddy.�? The volunteer comes to school once a week to have lunch with their buddy, talk, play games or read.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Lunch Buddy For a Day
    This program allows a group to get a feel for what being a lunch buddy or tutor would be like. The day starts off with a presentation about A Child’s Place and other community resources for the underprivileged in our community. This is followed by lunch with a group of client children and then a group session afterwards to discuss your experiences.

  • Donate Items
    A Child's Place client children are always in need of:

    • Uniforms (sizes 4T-Adult) for boys and girls
      blue/khaki pants, skirts, shorts and white button-up shirts
    • Other Clothing
      underwear, socks, bras (all sizes)
    • Hygiene Items
      toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion, chap stick, feminine hygiene napkins
    • School Supplies
      rulers, pencils (lead and mechanic), pens, loose leaf paper, spiral notebooks, composition books, erasers, glue, markers, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, scissors, protractors, calculators, folders, binders, combination locks, hand sanitizer, hand soap, facial tissues
    • Snacks
      Individually pre-packaged nonperishable items including – Juice Boxes, Fruit Snacks, Fruit Cups, Raisins, Breakfast bars, crackers, pretzels, cookies, granola bars, yogurt snacks, goldfish crackers, individual cereal boxes
    • ITEMS WE DO NOT TAKE
      ANY USED ITEMS (even gently used) including clothes, stuffed animals which may be donated to Crisis Assistance Ministries or Salvation Army; homemade snacks, etc.
    • EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS
      Please contact (704) 943-9532 to discuss.

Florence Crittenton Services

The mission of Florence Crittenton Services is to promote health and hope for tomorrow's children by providing comprehensive health, educational and social services for single, pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents, women and their families.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Special Events Volunteer
    Assistance with various administrative duties required for each of our special events including annual luncheon, fashion show, golf tournament and arts event.
  • Teens are welcome to volunteer along with a parent.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Groups are welcome to provide and serve meals for our residents. These events often occur with special holiday themes or as a "baby shower" event.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    Single bed sheets, blankets, pillows, bath towels sets, laundry detergent, laundry baskets/hampers, diapers (all sizes), alarm clocks, back packs with school supplies, gas/gift cards.

The Relatives

The Relatives Crisis Center provides a safe location for youth 7-17 who have run away from home, are homeless or just going through a rough family situation with nowhere else to turn. On Ramp is a Resource Center for any young adult 16-24 years old in Mecklenburg County who may need help making the successful evolution from youth to being an independent adult. Journey Place is a specialized program for young adult males 18-21 who are aging out of foster care and need assistance making the transition from foster care to being an independent adult.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    The Relatives provides a variety of opportunities for volunteers – for both individuals interested in working directly with youth and those who just want to “help out around the house.�? We regularly enlist the help of businesses, church groups, youth programs and others to help paint inside and out, maintain the yard, or tackle larger maintenance projects. Many of the same groups may also choose to provide activities for the youth, including art projects or recreational opportunities.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    • Organizing an evening or weekend activity with the youth, including games, craft projects, presentations/demonstrations, cooking lessons, and more.
    • Sponsoring or donating dinner or lunch – groups bring dinner on a regular schedule and stay for food and fellowship.
    • Done-in-a-Day projects like spring and fall yard maintenance, window cleaning, organizing, and other chores.
    • Tutoring and mentoring.
    • Helping organize agency activities.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Deodorant/anti-perspirant
    • Body wash and body puffs
    • Shampoo and styling products
    • Soap, all-natural or Dove
    • Feminine hygiene products
    • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss (travel size)
    • Hair combs and brushes, wavy brushes
    • Hair grease, gel, and hair moisturizer
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Toilet paper
    • Mattress pad
    • Mattress covers (plastic)
    • Twin sheet sets

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    HERC Volunteer
    Housing & Employment Resource Center

    Assist clients in searching for employment and housing via the internet. Assist clients in obtaining foundation documents (i.e. birth certificate, NC ID, social security card, or credit report). Opportunities from 9:00am - 10:00pm (2-6 hour increments).
  • All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Kitchen/Meal Service Volunteer
    Volunteers will assist in preparing and serving the meal. Groups of 7-12 volunteers are needed for each meal served. The Men's Shelter of Charlotte serves 3 meals every day of the week.
  • All volunteers must be 18 or older unless previously approved by the Community Resource Coordinator. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Donate Items
    Clothing items:

    • (New) Men’s Underwear (Boxers or Briefs Sizes M-5XL)
    • (New) Men’s T-Shirts (Undershirts) (Sizes M-5XL)
    • Men's Socks
    • Hats, Gloves, Coats

Hope Haven

Hope Haven, a foundation of recovery, provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Activities
    Lead and facilitate an activity, such as crafts, crochet, games, cooking class, birthday parties, etc, while providing companionship for Hope Haven residents. Volunteers coordinate ideas and activity plan with staff, lead the activity and provide general friendship and interaction with Hope Haven residents. Also as van drivers in our vans to 12 step meetings.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Community Room Partners
    Adopt one of Hope Haven's community rooms and live out a HGTV moment. Work together as a team and decide upon a room design for one of Hope Haven's community rooms, which promote socialization for residents. Volunteers will purchase all of the needed items and spend a day or two decorating the room.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Hygiene items
    • New or clean linens and towels
    • Tutoring resources (reading, flashcards & math workbooks grades 1-9)
    • Phonics workbooks
    • Tools
    • Pocket Dictionaries
    • Recovery Books (AA/NA)
    • Car in good condition for transporting residents

Charlotte Family Housing

Our mission is to empower homeless families to achieve long-term self-sufficiency through shelter, housing, support services and advocacy.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Volunteers are needed to serve as overnight hosts Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at each shelter site. Overnight hosts arrive at 8:00 p.m. and can leave after 6:30 a.m. the next morning. We offer a private room with a private bath for our volunteers, as well as WIFI, a private TV and coffee. Serving as an overnight host saves CFH over $100 per night at each of our shelter sites, and is a critical volunteer need for our program.
  • family-friendly opportunity
  • Background screening required for overnight volunteers.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Groups and individuals are needed to organize activities for children, maintain the landscaping and assist with regular deep cleaning of the facilities. Volunteers are welcome to suggest other activities where they can share their gifts and talents.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • In-Kind Donations
    Welcome basket items, which are given to families when they enter one of our shelters and are taken with them when they move into housing, including full/twin sheet sets, full/twin comforters, bath towels, plate sets, utensils and pots and pans.

Community Link

Our mission is to enable individuals and families to obtain and sustain safe, decent and affordable housing.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Guest Services Member
    Availability: M-F, 8-5; times vary
    If you enjoy greeting and talking with people, this is the role for you! We look for enthusiastic individuals to help manage our front desk. For consistency, we ask for a commitment of at least once a week for at least two hours.

  • Committee Service
    Availability: Ongoing, monthly
    Serving behind-the-scenes might be your passion. If so, we hope you'll consider sharing your time and expertise on one of our organizational committees (audit, endowment, finance, human resources, marketing/development, strategic planning, Sweet Escapes Special Event). Meeting times are limited, but your involvement is priceless. You'll offer feedback and insight to help develop, guide, and strengthen Community Link. And, it's a great networking opportunity!

  • Tax Aide
    Availability: Yearly - Jan.-April
    Site Coordinator
    Quality Reviewer
    Tax Preparer
    Greeter
    Interpreter
    Scheduler
    Intern

    Training: 16-24 hour classroom training or online self-study for most positions. Must pass volunteer certification.

    The first answer to your question is no - you don't need to be a tax attorney to lend your time as a Tax Aide. But yes to making a positive impact on the lives of seniors and low-income individuals and families. You'll complete basic tax returns for a targeted population in our community that are challenged to pay out of pocket for these services. Training is provided. Maybe not wanting to file taxes? Other opportunities include appointment setters, greeters, and site coordinators as well.

  • Financial Coach
    Availability: Ongoing, monthly

    Training: Up to two hour orientation, provided the third Thursday of each month.
    Stretch a mind to exercise good financial decisions! You'll pair with a Community Link customer to mentor them on basic financial decision-making and help that individual build a better future. A certified financial advisor is not who you need to be - rather, you'll become a trusted friend to join a customer on their journey to self-sufficiency.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Welcome Crew
    Welcome a formerly homeless family to their new home - with a provision of supplies. Perhaps it's a bed and bath basket; children's needs; or just basic household supplies.

    Groups enjoy collecting these treasured items knowing they'll make a huge difference in a family's life. In some cases, you might be able to make the delivery!

  • Donation Request
    Bathroom cleaner, brooms/mops, paper towels
    Laundry baskets
    Pots, pans, dishes
    Shower curtain, shower hooks
    Toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet paper
    Towels, dish cloths, dish towels

Friendship CDC

Our mission is to provide temporary housing for single adult homeless women in a safe environment, while offering life skills training that will empower them to become self-sufficient citizens.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Please see website.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Please see website.

  • Donate Items
    Please see website.

Hope Haven

Hope Haven, a foundation of recovery, provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential enviornment, leading to independence.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Job Search 101
    Help residents with online applications and mock interview skills.
  • Must be 18 or older.

  • Donate Items
    Employment Tools Drive
    Contact Hope Haven to see what's needed and organize a donation drive for employment tools and help meet resident needs. This can be done by youth groups, churches, offices or a group of friends.
  • Must be 18 or older.

Hope House Foundation

The mission of the Hope House Foundation is to provide transitional housing and supportive services to women and children who are experiencing homelessness in the Lake Norman area in order for them to procure long-term housing and self-sufficiency.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Resident Advisor
    Resident Advisor Volunteers to monitor Hope House must be women, age 21 or older, who will commit to answering the phone and door, and spending general time with the women and children of Hope House 1-2 times per month for up to 3 hrs per shift. The house is located in Huntersville, NC. Volunteer must be a female 21 years of age or older willing to be trained and commit to 1-2 times per month for a 5-hour shift. Background check required.
  • Must be a female 21 years of age or older. Background check required.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Hope House offers many opportunities for the community to volunteer doing tasks such as handyman services, life skills training, arts & crafts, mentoring, "group service days", special event volunteers or by simply collecting needed items for the home.

  • Donate Items
    Residents at Hope House generally purchase and prepare their own meals. However sometimes we do have a need to supply either food or household items, which is why we would prefer gift card donations such as Walmart or Target instead of canned or packaged food.

    Paper products, cleaning and laundry supplies and personal items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and feminine care products.

The Housing Partnership

Our mission is to expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low and moderate income families with a continuing interest in the ability of occupants to more fully enter the economic mainstream.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Office Work
    Assistance with office work, such as copying, filing, etc.
  • Must be 18+ and able to pass a background check.

  • Donate Items
    Funds
    Funds for housing programs.

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    HERC Volunteer
    Housing & Employment Resource Center

    Assist clients in searching for employment and housing via the internet. Assist clients in obtaining foundation documents (i.e. birth certificate, NC ID, social security card, or credit report). Opportunities from 9:00am - 10:00pm (2-6 hour increments).
  • All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Kitchen/Meal Service Volunteer
    Volunteers will assist in preparing and serving the meal. Groups of 7-12 volunteers are needed for each meal served. The Men's Shelter of Charlotte serves 3 meals every day of the week.
  • All volunteers must be 18 or older unless previously approved by the Community Resource Coordinator. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.

  • Donate Items
    Clothing items:

    • (New) Men’s Underwear (Boxers or Briefs Sizes M-5XL)
    • (New) Men’s T-Shirts (Undershirts) (Sizes M-5XL)
    • Men's Socks
    • Hats, Gloves, Coats

Urban Ministry Center

The Urban Ministry Center is an interfaith agency dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness...one life at a time.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    We invite volunteers to be part of our weekday support team. Volunteers help us run our basic services through a variety of positions:
    • Front desk or upstairs reception
    • Counselor
    • Personal services assistant (shower and laundry)
    • Computer lab support
    • Job search support
    • Van driver
    • Mail sorter (10:30 – 12:30)
    • Office & staff assistant (times flexible)
    • Data Entry (times flexible)
    Visit our website to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Operation Sandwich
    Urban Ministry Center serves nearly 300,000 sandwiches in one year! We invite your group to prepare sandwiches for our soup kitchen through our "Operation Sandwich" effort. Click here to learn more.

  • Donate Items
    • Men's razors
    • Spray deodorant
    • Feminine hygiene products
    • Hand sanitizers (32 ounce & travel sizes)
    • Reading glasses
    • Backpacks
    • Towels & washcloths
    • Bathrobes
    • White socks (new, men's and women's)
    • Gain liquid laundry detergent

The Housing Partnership

Our mission is to expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low and moderate income families with a continuing interest in the ability of occupants to more fully enter the economic mainstream.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Office Work
    Assistance with office work, such as copying, filing, etc.
  • Must be 18+ and able to pass a background check.

  • Donate Items
    Funds
    Funds for housing programs.

Legal Aid of North Carolina

Our mission is to provide free legal services in critical civil matters to very low-income people in Mecklenburg County, including preventing homelessness of tenants by stopping unlawful evictions and securing necessary repairs, preventing domestic violence with protective orders, assisting qualified consumers with expunctions of some criminal records and assisting consumers protect homes, autos and other critical property from seizure and sales by creditors.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Lay Housing Counselors
    The easiest volunteer opportunity for people who are not lawyers is to work as lay housing counselors in our Homeless Prevention Project. The volunteers are trained in understanding and explaining the rights of tenants under NC law. Volunteers go to Crisis Assistance Ministry on any weekday morning and speak to groups of housing consumers about their rights and make appropriate referrals.

  • Contact attorney Isaac Sturgill at 704-749-7491 for more information.

Supportive Housing Communities

Our mission is to provide affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering.


  • Volunteer As An Individual
    Work in the community garden, show residents how to cook healthy food or sing in our community building choir on Thursdays.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Volunteer As A Group
    Prepare a meal or provide a cookout for residents.
  • family-friendly opportunity

  • Donate Items
    • Kitchen dishes, pots and pans
    • Cleaning Supplies
    • Bedding for single and queen sized beds
    • Laundry supplies
    • Bathroom supplies (towels, shower curtains,bathmats, etc)
    • Air miles
    • Gift cards
    • Bus Passes

Agencies Involved

A Child's Place of Charlotte
Charlotte Family Housing
Charlotte Rescue Mission
Community Link
Florence Crittenton Services
Hope Haven
Hope House Foundation
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Supportive Housing Communities
The Housing Partnership
The Relatives, Inc.
Urban Ministry Center
YWCA Central Carolinas