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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Ashley Does Not Give Up Easily

When Ashley and her five children arrived in Charlotte two years ago, she was determined to do everything possible to keep her family safe. When faced with the threat of homelessness, the community’s generosity and Ashley’s resilience kept her and her children stably housed. Help others in Ashley’s situation by making a gift today.

July 28, 2021

When Ashley and her five children arrived in Charlotte two years ago, she was determined to do everything possible to keep her family safe. Having escaped an abusive marriage after several failed attempts to leave, Ashley was excited to begin the next chapter of her life in the Queen City. It was close enough to her tiny hometown in rural South Carolina that she could reach out to family if necessary but far enough away from her ex-husband that she didn’t need to live in fear anymore. 

“I’ve always been one to do what I have to do for my kids. I don’t care what sacrifices I have to make. I’m not one to give up easy.” 

One of the biggest challenges Ashley has faced is keeping her family housed. Twice during her previous attempts to flee domestic violence, she and the children were forced to live in homeless shelters, and that’s an experience she never wants to go through again. So, when the pandemic hit last year and Ashley lost her job as a substitute teacher for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, panic understandably set in. 

MAKE A GIFT

At first, Ashley made ends meet by working for a staffing company, taking on flexible daily jobs that allowed her to work around the children’s schedules. But finding reliable childcare for her children, whose ages range from 5 to 13, was challenging and expensive. All the while, she was falling farther and farther behind on car payments, ultimately losing the vehicle to repossession.  

Meanwhile, the eviction moratorium ensured that the family could remain in their home, but Ashley worried about the inevitable lifting of that protection. She made partial rental payments to the landlord as she could, but her balance was getting larger every month. After a year of juggling and struggling, and with the moratorium about to end, Ashley realized she needed help to pay the amount owed. Otherwise, she and the children faced the prospect of homelessness. 

Anxious and uncertain about what to expect, Ashley turned to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Fortunately, her anxiety soon turned to relief. After a phone interview with an empathetic caseworker, Ashley learned that the agency would cover a large portion of her balance by sending a check directly to her landlord. Ashley was able to negotiate a reduction in the amount owed and then pay the remaining balance herself. Although accustomed to being self-sufficient and caring for her family alone, Ashley is glad she decided to reach out in her time of need.

“I’m not one to let my pride get in the way of getting my life where it needs to be. I’m not shy on any resources that the community has to offer because if I can’t do it on my own and I don’t have the support from family, then I know there’s someplace I can reach out to for help.” 

To the generous donors whose financial gifts made that assistance possible, Ashley says:  

“Thank you. Without you, I would more than likely have been on the street or even back home, back in the situation I worked so hard to get out of. You helping gave me hope and took a lot of stress out of my life.” 

MAKE A GIFT


For over 20 years, Crisis Assistance Ministry has been encouraging donors and supporters to forgo the cost of attending a gala, stay home, and make a gift to make a difference.

With your help, we can positively impact the families in our community seeking a hand up with their basic needs.

MAKE A GIFT

Filed Under: Agency News, Campaign, Customer Stories Tagged With: #CLTStaysHome, #GiveHope&HousingStability, #NonEvent2021, #PreserveDignity, #PreventHomelessness, Customer, Financial Assistance

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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  • (704) 371-3001
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID
    EIN 56-1416719

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We've got a special shout out to @championhouseofcare and @beyoubegreatnonprofit for their tireless commitment to helping the seniors displaced from Magnolia Apartments since Christmas Day. @CrisisAssistMin is proud to be working alongside these passionate grassroots organizations and @housingcollab_ to help craft individual plans to get our neighbors back into stable housing while ensuring their basic needs continue to be met.

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These community-minded Deltas celebrated Founder's Day last week by inspecting and preparing donated goods for Free Store shoppers. With their help, families shopping free of charge will find essentials to help them live with dignity this week.

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The King Center's theme for MLK Day 2023 is "It Start's With Me: Cultivating A Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems." Fifty-five years after his death, we still see the impacts of unjust systems every day at Crisis Assistance Ministry.  Read more in this weekend's blog (link in bio)

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of  Martin Luther King Day. The office will be closed to all customers, volunteers, staff, and donors. Typical hours resume on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

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Families in Charlotte, and across the country, are struggling to make ends meet. Inflation has outpaced wage growth. People are working harder than ever but still falling behind on rent and utilities. People need more money. But could we use policy to get more money into the hands of those who need it the most? This week's blog takes a look at the potential for Guaranteed Basic Income here in the Queen City. (Link in bio)
📷 courtesy of @stocktondemo

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Just one more day before we're back to "normal." So, @CrisisAssistMin is closed January 2, 2023,  and will return to typical business hours tomorrow, January 3.
(Financial assistance 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Free Store by appointment 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Donation drop off 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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Wishing you hope, warmth, & light in the new year and beyond.
(P.S. @crisisassistmin will be closed tomorrow, January 2, and reopen with typical hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.)

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"Everybody wants to have that light shine."
Nikki shares what the holidays mean to her family as we reach the end of the year.  Looking back, she's grateful for the help of the community to get her through a financial crisis and back on her feet moving toward economic mobility.
Thousands more families will seek that same kind of help -- to stay safely housed, to keep utilities flowing, to provide clothing and household goods, and to rebuild financial stability -- in 2023.
Visit our quick links to learn more and to make a tax-deductible year-end gift to help more of our neighbors in the coming year.
Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Crisis Assistance Ministry wishes the hope, warmth, and light of home to all those who celebrate Kwanzaa this week.

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