50th Anniversary Timeline

CENSUS: Mecklenburg County population: 377,355 Poverty rate in Mecklenburg County (1970): 12.5%  

Coalition of churches found Crisis Assistance Ministry which begins operations in Dilworth United Methodist Church on April 15 under the leadership of Caroline Love Myers, who would guide w our growth for 25 years .

Launched our clothing and housewares assistance program on the site of present day ImaginOn, establishing ourselves as Charlotte's central hub for free distribution of essential items.

CENSUS: Mecklenburg County population 404,270 Poverty rate in Mecklenburg County: 10.9% 

Named Lead Agency for Financial Assistance county-wide administering Mecklenburg County emergency assistance dollars with operating assistance from United Way ; Duke Power Share the Warmth program begins providing additional funds to help families with energy costs. 

 Financial Assistance and Clothing Ministry are united under one roof at Spratt Street location near uptown Charlotte.

Integrated the Furniture and Appliance Store program, originally started by Covenant Presbyterian Church.

CENSUS: Mecklenburg County population 511,433 Poverty Rate in Mecklenburg County: 9.6%.

Welfare Reform through Work First increases numbers seeking assistance.

First pilot program supporting families with extended casework expands.

Welcomed Carol Hardison as Agency Executive Director, ushering in a new era of growth and innovation; CENSUS:  Mecklenburg County population 695,454 Poverty rate in Mecklenburg County: 9.2%.

Community Education & Advocacy program is launched to help the community understand and address the realities of poverty in Mecklenburg County (from 2015 timeline).

Housing bubble bursts; Financial industry downturn quickly impacts Charlotte and surrounding areas; Unemployment doubles; Poverty Rate rises to 12.7%.

Created the Civic Engagement program to invoke deeper understanding and empathy of the realities those living with limited financial resources face.  (from 2025 handbook)   
2010 CENSUS: 919,568 Poverty rate in Mecklenburg County: 14.5%.

Slow recovery begins; 10.3 million jobs added nationally 2010 to 2014.

Established the Financial Empowerment Service (formerly Economic Mobility Program) to help families and individuals move toward greater financial security. (2015 timeline)  Extended casework model expands, helping families get to root cause of financial crisis and rebuild economic mobility.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg ranks 50th of 50 major cities in economic mobility. Mecklenburg County and the Foundation for the Carolinas launch the Opportunity Task Force to address the growing economic inequity and ensure opportunity for all.

Transform services to meet needs in COVID-impacted community; Mobilized to assist those at risk who were making homes in hotels at onset; piloted drive-through services; launched PASS; virtual and hybrid poverty awareness education is born.

CENSUS

Community in Recovery from COVID impact.

Consolidated Furniture Operations into local nonprofit dedicated to furniture. Launched Benefits Access Service to help people get access to their public benefits. Launched Mass Displacement Event Service to find housing for people living in multi-family residences that are closing.

Updated 50 out of 50.

Projected pop; Poverty rate.