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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Economic Mobility

April 2, 2026

The Cycle of Poverty, Eviction, and Mental Illness

Defining the connection between poverty and mental illness is a chicken-and-egg scenario: does mental illness create an inability to overcome a state of poverty, or does poverty increase or perpetuate the occurrence of mental illness?

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Charlotte, Crescent and Wedge, Economic Mobility, Leading On Opportunity, Mecklenburg County, Mental Health, Mental Health America of Central Carolinas, NAMI, Rethink Poverty

February 26, 2026

The Benefits Cliff: When Progress Costs Too Much

For most people, getting a raise at work is cause for celebration.

But for thousands of hardworking families, a raise can trigger something unexpected – and dangerous – called the benefits cliff.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Customer Stories Tagged With: Benefits Cliff, Economic Mobility

Matthew Sharp headshot

February 9, 2026

Crisis Assistance Ministry Names Matthew Sharp Chief Housing Stability Officer 

Crisis Assistance Ministry is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Sharp as Chief Housing Stability Officer (CHSO). Sharp brings more than 19 years of senior leadership experience across the nonprofit and higher education sectors to this critical executive role. As CHSO, Sharp will lead the agency’s Housing Stability Services division, overseeing emergency financial assistance […]

Filed Under: Agency News Tagged With: Chief Housing Security Officer, Economic Mobility, Executive Team, Financial Empowerment

November 1, 2025

Julia: Giving Back in Gratitude

When we first told Julia’s story, almost a decade ago now, she was emerging from life-altering tragedy and grateful to have found help and hope at Crisis Assistance Ministry. With your support, her utilities were restored, she was connected to one-on-one coaching for longer term housing stability, and later found her voice as a Customer […]

Filed Under: Customer Stories, Volunteer Stories Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Customer, customer advovate, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance, Financial Empowerment, Gratitude, holiday giving, Housing Stability, Julia, Volunteers

October 21, 2025

Stronger Together: How Our Partner Agency Network Amplifies Impact

Every day in Mecklenburg County, families face unexpected crises – a job loss, a medical emergency, or a sudden rent increase – that threaten to upend their stability. When that happens, no one should have to face those challenges alone. That belief drives Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Partner Agency Network, a collaboration of organizations working together to ensure help arrives […]

Filed Under: Agency News, Customer Stories Tagged With: Community, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance, Latin American Coaltion, Partnerships

July 16, 2025

50 Stories for 50 Years

For 50 years, this community has come together here to offer help, hope, and understanding to Mecklenburg County neighbors in need of housing stability. In honor of this milestone year, we are sharing 50 stories of Crisis Assistance Ministry throughout the year. Here’s a recap so far:

Filed Under: Agency News, Customer Stories Tagged With: 50, 50YrsofHopeCLT, Customer, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance

Increase in Housing

April 18, 2024

Charlotte’s Six-Figure Salary Requirement

Charlotte, North Carolina, has become a place where a comfortable life requires a six-figure salary, according to a recent study from SmartAsset. The study’s authors used a 50/30/20 model for their calculations, in which no more than 50% of a household’s income is allocated for essentials such as housing, transportation, and groceries,  30%  for “fun” things such as hobbies and entertainment, and 20%  for savings, investments, and paying off debt.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: #FinancialSecurityCLT, #income, #PreserveDignity, #Salary, #SalaryGap, Advocacy, Charlotte, Community, Cost of Living, Economic Mobility

November 17, 2023

The Real Meaning of Hope, Warmth, & Light

Hope. Warmth. Light. What do these words really mean? What happens when they are taken away? Joe’Asia knows that fear, but she’s now able to share warmth with her family thanks to the help of neighbors like you.

Filed Under: Campaign, Customer Stories Tagged With: #Holiday2023, 50, Customer, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance, Financial Empowerment, Holiday2023

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Recent Posts

  • Group of people standing and talking in the Crisis Assistance Ministry lobby during the 2025 alumni eventCrisis Assistance Ministry Welcomes New Board Members 
  • A Tale of Two Customers 
  • The Cycle of Poverty, Eviction, and Mental Illness
  • New Report Reveals Deepening Pressure on Charlotte Mecklenburg Families 
  • The Benefits Cliff: When Progress Costs Too Much

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Contact Us

  • (704) 371-3001
  • 500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID:
    EIN 56-1416719
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crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 17987113247813254
Today, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the generous leaders in our local real estate community who are standing behind families in crisis.

Because of these Challenge partners, every gift to Crisis Assistance Ministry is being matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1 million. That means every contribution from our community goes twice as far to help keep neighbors safely housed, with the lights on and essentials covered.

In an industry that understands better than anyone how much “home” matters, these challengers are using their influence to protect it for families who are hanging on by a thread. Their leadership is not just financial; it sends a powerful message that stable housing is a shared responsibility.

To each of our real estate partners: THANK YOU for believing that every family deserves a safe place to call home, and for inviting our community to join you in doubling their impact.

💛 You can be part of this, too. Give to the Match Challenge today, and your gift will be doubled for families facing crisis: Link in Bio

crisisassistmin

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Help us welcome our newest Board members: Sherry Ferguson, Jay Herring, and Allison Hoffman. 💛

Our Board is a volunteer group of community leaders guiding housing stability and financial assistance work across Charlotte‑Mecklenburg. They bring expertise from finance, healthcare, housing, law, and grassroots organizing, all grounded in a shared commitment to neighbors in financial crisis.

New Board member Allison Hoffman put it this way:

“It is such an honor to join the amazing board at Crisis Assistance Ministry. I'm looking forward to learning more about the important work they are doing in our community, and raising awareness about the financial hardships our neighbors are facing.”

We are grateful for Sherry, Jay, and Allison’s time, talents, and heart for this mission.

crisisassistmin

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Spring cleaning meets summer sun. 🌼☀️ This week’s most needed items on our Amazon Wishlist are Fabuloso and sunscreen, helping neighbors keep their homes fresh and their families protected as warmer days approach.

Scan the QR code in the graphic or use the link in our bio to shop our wishlist and have essentials sent directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Every item you give makes a real difference for a local family. 💛

crisisassistmin

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Change happens when we show up and speak out.

Earlier this week, Carol Hardison @carolinthehouse stood before @cltgov  City Council to support “The People’s Budget” – a vision for a city budget that centers care, dignity, and justice for all of Charlotte, not just a few.

Every day, we see neighbors pushed to the brink by rising housing costs, low wages, and impossible choices. In the last fiscal year, 52,625 evictions were filed in Mecklenburg County.

Carol uses her voice publicly and consistently so those realities are not ignored, calling for investments in housing stability and the services families rely on. Leadership means being willing to be seen, to listen, and to speak up for those who are too often left out of the conversation. We are grateful to have a leader who does exactly that for our entire community. 💛

crisisassistmin

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According to a national study, renters who believe they’re likely to be evicted in the next two months have more than double the odds of experiencing depression and anxiety compared with renters who feel secure in their housing.

Even the threat of losing a home can keep families up at night. This Mental Health Awareness Month and Affordable Housing Month, we’re working so that more Mecklenburg County neighbors can worry less about eviction and focus more on healing.

crisisassistmin

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This could have been a novel full of obstacles, but it’s a real story of hope, resilience, and strength.

In “A Tale of Two Customers,” Mandy and Shawn walk through the same lobby at Crisis Assistance Ministry carrying very different burdens and find the same open door to help and a way forward. Their journeys reflect what so many of our neighbors face when life unravels: past‑due notices, hard choices, and the fear of losing home and stability.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

During our Challenge Match, every dollar you give is matched dollar for dollar, so your generosity goes twice as far—twice the help, twice the impact, twice the hope—for families like Mandy’s and Shawn’s. Tap the link in our bio to read “A Tale of Two Customers” and make your matched gift today.

crisisassistmin

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This group surprised us in the best way 💛

The Child First team from Children’s Home Society of North Carolina showed up with a gentle approach and fierce tenacity, carefully inspecting donations that will soon support local families — and somehow made it all look fun and effortless at the same time. We’re so grateful for partners whose mission to strengthen children and families aligns so closely with ours, and we can’t wait to welcome them back again soon.

crisisassistmin

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We’ve been looking for you everywhere — our favorite financial supporter! We checked X, we peeked at Bluesky, and look at that … we finally found you here on Instagram. 

Every dollar you give to our Challenge Match is matched dollar for dollar (up to $1 million!) turning one act of generosity into two. Your gift goes twice as far: twice the help, twice the impact, twice the hope for neighbors who are doing everything they can to keep the lights on and a safe place to call home.

Ready to make your generosity do double duty?

🔁 Your donation is matched 1:1
❤️ Twice the impact for families in crisis
📲 Give today and help keep the lights on, the rent paid, and hope alive

Tap the link in our bio to donate now and watch your gift be doubled for our community.

crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 18089886851462106
Then: median rent around $145.
Now: about $1,600.

Wages didn’t keep up. Housing costs did.
Neighbors we serve today earn about $25,000 a year and spend most of it just to stay housed.

Since 1975, 2.5 million people have found help here when the math just didn’t work anymore.

The year changed. The zip codes changed.
The need for a safety net in Charlotte didn’t.

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