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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Poverty: The Newest “Dirty” Word

Poverty isn’t a permanent place that someone lives in; in fact, most people flow in and out of living in poverty throughout their lives. Living paycheck to paycheck is relatively normal today. Therefore, missing a paycheck due to sickness or another issue could cause a surge in the direction of poverty and hinder the ability to pay rent on time or buy groceries for your family.

July 10, 2019

By Hana Newnam

Poverty seems to be a dirty and taboo word around the country, but especially in Charlotte. Everyone knows it exists, but they pretend not to see the starving man on the corner of Trade and Tryon or the exhausted woman trying to lay down for a bit on an uptown bench which has a bar placed oh-so-conveniently in the middle to stop her from doing just that.  Ignoring these people is a lot easier when you have the mentality that those living in poverty are “lazy” and should “just get a job.” But poverty doesn’t always have easy answers. In fact, it happens to ordinary people who have had a “perfect storm” of hardships or traumas.   

Recently, I had the privilege to join four customer advocates and nearly a dozen other interns for a truthful chat about poverty in Charlotte. The discussion began with a reflection on Gene Nichol’s Faces of Poverty in North Carolina and then moved into the customer advocates sharing their real and heart-breaking stories. 

Summer interns from a variety of community-serving organizations met with customer advocates for an open discussion of poverty and its implications for Charlotte and the families who live here.

Poverty isn’t a permanent place

I learned that poverty can look like a family who was living an average life until their home was ruined in a flood, a car crash prevented them from getting to work on time, or something more traumatic like domestic violence forced them to relocate. People who used to feel safe and secure, now suddenly feel invisible, unheard, and defeated.   

One of the interns described Charlotte as a “glossy” and idealized city that wants to pretend there is no problem with poverty. An advocate agreed, saying that the visible need is “covered up by gentrification.” Parts of Charlotte like South End used to be full of affordable housing for low wage earners but have now been bulldozed and replaced with breweries and luxury condominiums. This has forced people in need of lower-cost housing to overcrowd low-income neighborhoods, effectively hiding their need in hidden pockets of poverty far from new development. 

Because I grew up in Charlotte, I knew a lot about some of these trends, but one thing I’ve never thought of is the fluidity of poverty. Poverty isn’t a permanent place that someone lives in; in fact, most people flow in and out of living in poverty throughout their lives. Living paycheck to paycheck is relatively normal today. Therefore, missing a paycheck due to sickness or another issue could cause a surge in the direction of poverty and hinder the ability to pay rent on time or buy groceries for your family.  

Genuine listening creates understanding

The interns sitting around the conference room were relatively privileged college students, while in front of us we saw four resilient adults in different stages of their life—all who have survived poverty.  The outcome of the discussion was a beautiful and eye-opening understanding of each other. It’s something that can only come from genuine listening. No matter the differences in their stories, each advocate said they don’t want to be pitied. Instead, they said they just want to be heard and to be regarded as a human instead of a statistic.


Hana Newnam is a rising Junior at Queens University of Charlotte and an Intern with the Marketing Team at Crisis Assistance Ministry.  She enjoys learning about social justice and advocacy in order to better educate herself and others on issues in our community.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Faces of Poverty in North Carolina, Gene Nichol, Hana Newnam, Interns, Poverty

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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🎓🎓🎓Look CLOSELY at this video. You'll see a group, but each extraordinary individual within it carries a story of resilience that knows no bounds. As we congratulate our newest customer advocate class, we're also honoring their unique experiences and eagerly anticipate their advocacy moving forward. Collectively, their stories powerfully illustrate the challenges many families navigate when seeking help during a crisis.

This year, as we mark our 50th Anniversary, our Customer Advocate's #LivedExperiences are only a few of #50StoriesofCrisisAssistance Ministry we're sharing— demonstrating stories of resilience and the support that helps individuals regain stability.

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Happy Independence Day as we celebrate freedom in all its forms— including the freedom to pursue housing and financial stability! We cheer on all those working hard to build a secure future for themselves and their families. #FinancialFreedom #IndependenceDay

Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed on July 4th. We will resume normal business hours on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

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Inspired! Last week, the Middle School Ministry from Thomas Road Baptist Church (Lynchburg, VA) @ThomasRoad traveled over 200 miles to serve our Mecklenburg County neighbors.

Despite the heat, these young people delivered 150 snack packs and cold water and meticulously stocked the Free Store with dignity. 

There's always a place for volunteer groups here. Head over to our link in bio to sign up.

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"It could have been way worse... I was on the emergence of a deployment and I couldn't get any help here from family and friends."

George, an active service member, courageously shares his #LivedExperience of facing a financial crisis while deployed. He found a lifeline at Crisis Assistance Ministry, securing vital rental and utility assistance. Since 1975, we have been here lifting up our neighbors so that no one has to face financial hardship alone.

For 50 years, neighbors like George have found what they needed at Crisis Assistance Ministry to achieve financial stability. His is just one of #50StoriesofCrisisAssistance Ministry we're sharing in recognition of #50yearsofhopeCLT.

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🚨ATTENTION: A new bill in Congress, H.R. 1, proposes significant cuts to vital safety-net programs for Mecklenburg County families. This could impact food security, healthcare, and energy assistance for our most vulnerable neighbors.

At Crisis Assistance Ministry, we believe everyone deserves basic dignity. Learn why these potential changes matter to our community and how it may affect you.

➡️ Tap the link in bio for full details.

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Full circle moments! ✨ In our 50th Anniversary year, we were so honored to welcome students from @queensuniv, carrying forward a legacy started by our founder, Queens alumna Caroline Love Myers!

This amazing group spent their afternoon meticulously stocking our Free Store and processing incoming donations – turning generous gifts into dignified essentials for families in crisis.

These students reminded us that these shelves stay full because of YOU, our incredible material goods donors! Your contributions directly empower families. Want to keep this legacy of compassion thriving? Learn how to donate goods: Link in Bio!

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🥵 We are feeling the Charlotte heat! For many neighbors, staying cool isn't just about comfort—it's critical. Extreme heat disproportionately impacts lower-income communities due to factors like urban heat islands and historical disinvestment.

Here at Crisis Assistance Ministry, the community comes together to help households pay their utilities, ensuring families can have air conditioning or running fans during these sweltering days. You can be the neighbor to help keep the electricity on! Link in bio to learn more and give.

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Twenty-five years of heart. 25 years of steadfast leadership. ✨ We're honoring our CEO, Carol Hardison, for a quarter-century of dedicated service to Crisis Assistance Ministry and our neighbors. It's remarkable, especially considering she's only the second CEO in our 50-year journey!

Want to help us celebrate this amazing milestone? Flood our comments with a "Happy Anniversary Carol!" 👇Don't forget to tag her @carolinthehouse
#HappyAnniversaryCarol #Leadership #CommunityHero #CrisisAssistanceMinistry #Charlotte

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Meck County and the City of Charlotte have opened cooling stations across the area, including:
•	Day Service Centers
•	Recreation & Senior Centers
•	Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries
•	Spraygrounds, Pools & Beaches!

PLUS, CATS (@ridecats) is offering FREE transportation to cooling stations.

This is critical for a variety of populations, including those experiencing homelessness, seniors, and families struggling with utility costs. Access to cool spaces and resources like fans (available from Mecklenburg County DSS for eligible residents!) can literally be life-saving.

KNOW THE SIGNS: Heat illness is preventable! Drink water, limit activity, and seek cool spaces. Spread the word! Visit @mecklenburgcounty for more details.

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