Mission & Vision
The mission of Crisis Assistance Ministry is to provide assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency.
Our vision is to inspire our community to justice and generosity as we provide help, hope, and understanding to people struggling with limited financial resources.
Our Programs
Basic Needs
Mecklenburg County families receive help with life’s basic needs: emergency rent and utility assistance, clothing, household goods, furniture, beds, and appliances.
Economic Mobility
The Economic Mobility Program helps families move towards financial security and introduces pathways to economic opportunity. Enrolled families are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with a caseworker for an hour per week for up to 90 days.
Civic Engagement
In a vibrant city like Charlotte, it’s easy to overlook the fact that many are suffering amid affluence. Our Civic Engagement Program increases awareness of the complex issues facing more than 100,000 neighbors in Mecklenburg County living in poverty.
By the Numbers
Children Benefiting from Our Services
Children under 18 made up 42% of those benefiting from Crisis Assistance Ministry services.
In Tribute To a Life Well Lived
At Crisis Assistance Ministry, our hearts are heavy with the loss of another servant leader. Regina Smith, our coworker and friend, passed away unexpectedly on January 11, 2022. She may not have achieved worldwide fame or received the Nobel Peace Prize, but Regina dedicated her life to improving the lives of others, and she will be greatly missed.
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COVID-19 Suspends Material Goods Donations and In-Person Volunteers
Due to the rise in transmission of COVID-19 and the prominence of the highly contagious Omicron variant in Mecklenburg County, Crisis Assistance Ministry is temporarily suspending all in-person volunteer opportunities beginning January 8, 2022, and temporarily suspending receipt of donations at our Donation Drive-Thru and Furniture & Appliance Store beginning January 12, 2022
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Who Are You Helping?
Ever wonder who comes to this agency for assistance? Some of our caseworkers give insight about the people who are blessed by your gifts.
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Hope For This Grandmother
Meet a grandmother who received your gift of hope and help when she needed it most. Her modest monthly check, which had previously barely covered her regular expenses, couldn’t stretch to meet the increased food and utility costs.
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A Holiday Message for You
2021 was a year of changing, growing, and finding new ways to connect with those who seek help with basic needs. Your support allowed our team to rise to the challenge while serving families in deeper need than ever before.
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Countdown to Make A Difference this Year
As the calendar year draws to a close, updated tax provisions mean your year-end giving can make a huge difference for families facing financial crisis in our community. There are at least six ways to make a financial gift before 2022 arrives.
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What A Difference You Made
In 2021, your support powered so many transformations — from the thousands of families you helped to the innovative new ways they received services. Thank you for preventing homelessness and preserving dignity for so many of our neighbors during an unprecedented year.
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You Gave the Gift of Relief
Two remarkable women recently sat down together to share what your gifts to Crisis Assistance Ministry have meant to them. Both of these ladies came to Crisis Assistance Ministry needing rent assistance and thanks to donors like you they got financial help and relief. Sometimes you just need a little bit of help to get moving in the right direction and feel like you are no longer underwater.
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You Can Be The Sun In Someone’s Life
Angela is a proud, native Charlottean who owns her own home and never needed help from anyone. That is until the pandemic hit and her hours were cut to the point of her family facing utility disconnection. Learn more about how you brought the sunshine back into her life.
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The Furniture & Appliance Store is Coming Home
To better serve customers and donors, Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Furniture & Appliance Store is returning to the agency’s main location at 500-A Spratt Street in Charlotte this month. To help with the move, the agency will pause accepting furniture and appliance donations between October 17 and October 26, 2021.
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Back-to-School Partnerships Help Families Return to Learning
With 40+ public schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg requiring school uniforms, thousands of families face extra expenses each fall. Your generosity, together with critical community partnerships, helped struggling families return to learning this month.
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Latin American Coalition Partnership Breaks Down Barriers
39% of Latino adults report having difficulty paying basic household expenses compared to 23% of white adults. A partnership with the Latin American Coalition allows families to overcome barriers of language, transportation, childcare, and cultural understanding while seeking assistance with urgent needs.
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