Homeless Services Network | Prevention

prevention

We can prevent homelessness before it begins by identifying at-risk individuals and families, and then connecting them with resources including financial and legal assistance, and appropriate discharge planning. How can you help prevent homelessness?

Financial
Assistance

discharge planning

Legal
Assistance

legal assistance

Discharge
Planning

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.

Financial Assistance

Many Americans are just one crisis away from homelessness. But financial aid can often keep a family from losing their home when disaster strikes. This may include help with:

Rent assistance
Moving costs
Utility payments
Financial counseling

Want to list here?

If you have an opportunity that relates to this effort you would like to share, please contact us.

Legal Assistance

Most people lose their housing through eviction or foreclosure. But legal assistance can frequently prevent illegal evictions and mortgage foreclosures, as well as obtain, improve or preserve housing subsidies or disability payments.

Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

Discharge Planning

People who are not prepared to re-enter the community from foster care, hospitals, incarceration and other institutions often end up on the streets. Assistance at the point of discharge can eliminate much of this homelessness. This may include:

Help finding appropriate housing
(which may include a transitional home)
Ongoing support from a social worker
Connection to mental health services
Employment assistance/job training

The Relatives
family-friendly opportunity

Tanise Avington
Volunteer Coordinator

[email protected]

704-371-3001 ext. 137

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry provides assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency.

Volunteer As A Group
Muffin Ministry/Lunch Ministry
Muffin Ministry volunteers provide and serve food and beverage for customers in line or in the lobby at Crisis Assistance Ministry. A kind smile, snacks, drinks, and food are a much welcome relief to people who are facing the uncertainty of financial crisis.
family-friendly opportunity
Volunteers under the age of 16 are required to bring an adult.

Click on the logo above to learn more
and get in touch.

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.

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

Click on the logo above to learn more
and get in touch.

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

Our mission is to ensure a full measure of justice for those in need. LSSP provides a wide range of civil legal assistance to eligible low-income persons in the Charlotte metropolitan area and west-central NC.

LSSP accomplishes its mission through a variety of legal advocacy strategies including individual advice and representation, community education and outreach, representation of groups, self-help remedies, collaboration with other agencies, community economic development, legislative and administrative advocacy, and impact litigation.

Volunteer As An Individual
Interpreter/Translator
We have ongoing opportunities for translator/interpreters who are fluent in a second language, especially volunteers who are fluent in Spanish.

Volunteer As An Individual
Maintenance
We are in need of volunteers who are willing to be called occasionally for minor repairs, changing fluorescent light bulbs, installing shelves, fixing leaky faucets, hanging white boards, repairing lifted carpet, etc. Requires adults with knowledge and experience in simple building maintenance and repairs. Most work will be at volunteers' convenience, and all supplies would be provided.

Donate Items
Equipment: projector screen, 4-wheeled platform cart, LCD projector bulbs

Office supplies: copy paper, toilet paper, paper towels, printer ink, disposable cups for coffee and water

Click on the logo above to learn more
and get in touch.

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 pads
• Mattress covers (plastic)
• Twin sheet sets

Agencies Involved

Crisis Assistance Ministry
Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
The Relatives