Life at the Uptown Shelter

Ice Cream Social

2008-07-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

Posting by Linda Miller, Volunteer & Community Resource Coordinator

On Saturday, July 26th at 1:30 in the hot afternoon Marble Slab Creamery provided a large freezer filled with 200 servings of scooped ice cream in disposable dishes in seven different flavors. The men lined up and choose their favorite flavor. They then had a choice of eleven different toppings along with hot carmel sauce that was set up on a table near the freezer. The Marble Slab Creamery provided a server and we had them set up on the front porch. The men were expecting ice cream on a stick instead they were treated to a "Build your own Sundae - Ice Cream Social Event". The comments ranged from wonderful to let me see how many toppings I can fit in this dish. The event was all provided by the congregation at Salem Methodist Church from Bostic, NC. This was a memorable afternoon and I could visibly see the joy that we all seem to experience with a simple treat like ice cream.

Emergency Dorm Ribbon-Cutting Event

2008-07-10T07:33:00.001-07:00

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended the ribbon-cutting event for our Emergency Dorm. We had a great show of support and enthusiasm from the community. As we finish up the final touches on the construction we now begin to focus our attention on fund-raising efforts to bring in operational dollars. If you haven't already come by to see the dorm expansion - please do!

Emergency Dorm Before/After

2008-06-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Without the in-kind support from HomeAid Charlotte, Myers Park and the Crosland Foundation this project simply would remain a dream - which is exactly what it has been for the Shelter for over four years. The expansion not only brings privacy - it brings with it dignity for those who will temporarily call it home and a sense of independence. 44 additional beds in a community where the need for affordable housing and the strain on the shelters are at a max will go a long way this year. With an average length-0f-stay in the Emergency Dorm of 45 days, these additional 44 beds will help us serve over 300 additional men this year! Take a look at some before and after pictures from the project and make your way to the Shelter sometime for a personal tour.

BEFORE

AFTER

HomeAid even solicited free tile to redo the Emergency Dorm bathroom.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

2008-06-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

What a success! I heard from so many of the volunteers and contributors of the Shelter how much they enjoyed this event held in their honor! THANK YOU to Linda and Chuck for coordinating this fantastic event and also THANK YOU to William for going above and beyond to help prepare the Shelter just hours after the last construction crews were leaving from the Emergency Dorm construction project. The event included a fully-catered buffet-style dinner, live jazz, awards to individuals and groups and a testimonial from our very own Shelter alum James Covington. Attendees also received an inaugural tour of the new construction on their way out. Check out these pictures from the event:

Emergency Dorm Construction Project

2008-06-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated expansion project for the Emergency Dorm took place this week. The crews arrived early on Wednesday (6:am) and had all the framing up and bolted to the floor by 9:00 a.m.! The place was buzzing with construction crews with well over 100 people working on the dorm at one point. The project didn't start without a hitch though, in prepping the dorm the day prior, removing old lockers revealed a severe water leak from the shower that had rotted a good 200+ square feet of sheet-rock. Without fail, HomeAid came through and secured in-kind help replacing the rotted wall, mudding and painting - all just in time for the big day!

Dorm Construction Underway! - DAY ONE

2008-06-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

Actually, day one occurred over the weekend where residents and staff began the arduous process of removing all 142 bunks, mattresses, box-springs and client lockers. Today the painting crew has begun covering the infamous "hot pink" wall (I know the men will be disappointed) and replacing some rotted wall that was hiding behind the lockers caused from shower flooding. I tried to analyse the men's demeanor after their first night of being displaced to the floor as I walked through the facility this morning - seemed to be not that bad - of course it was still early and they could be still half asleep. The enormity of the Emergency Dorm becomes even more visible when empty. It's amazing that in a short few hours there will be partitions and an additional 22 bunks in that space.

As a primer to the project, HomeAid Charlotte has been informing the community of this inaugural project for them:

http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?database=01news%2edb&command=viewone&id=4607&op=t

http://charlotte.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=161024&type_news=latest

Stay tuned - the fun has just begun!

Shelter Softball Team

2008-06-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Posting by Warren Smith, Case Manager, Uptown Shelter

The Uptown Shelter was invited to participate in the annual NA AA Memorial Day Softball Tournament this year. This year we were given an advanced notice and Pam Neal and myself decided to use the time wisely. Trying to avoid the embarrassing performance we displayed 2 years ago, Pam Neal set up a couple of scrimmages with a local NA group at Veteran's Park while Andrew Miller provided us with our first gloves and bats. Seventeen willing clients stepped up to the plate to join the Uptown Shelter softball team. We were beaten pretty bad by the NA group but it was our first time out there in some years. The clients really enjoyed being out there that day even though their bodies paid for it the next.

Between the scrimmages, Tracy Klucina of the SACOT program brought it to our attention that there was going to be a Homeless Network Softball League between the US, Urban Ministries, Women's Shelter,St. Peter's Homes, and Homeless Helping Homeless. Each organization had to come up with their own teams. Pam And I teamed up with Tracy and the rest of her staff to prepare for the Softball league. The SACOT team agreed to provide the transportation to the park for softball practice. The was only one problem.....We didn't have a place to practice yet.

I decided to ask for a helping hand in developing this softball team. I asked Andrea Williams and Linda Miller to help us any way they can and the two of them came through for us in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Andrea was able to get UNCC to donate bags,bats, balls, and a catcher's mask and glove.She was also able to get Dick's sporting goods to give us coupon's for their equipment which Reggie Cook used to buy a left handed glove for our left handed players. Linda Miller's contributions were just as important. She was able to convince Charlotte Parks and Recreation to let us use Hornet Nest Park on Thursday and Fridays for the whole summer for free. She was also to provide us with 9 more gloves courtesy of the Uptown Shelter.

We've practiced for three weeks leading up to the tournament. My strategy was to invite any resident of the shelter who wanted to participate to come out and have the best players on the starting team and the others scrimmage the starters to fill out my bench. In total I may have had up to 35 residents come out and participate in the practices and scrimmages. We are developing a pretty decent starting team with great on field chemistry.

The tournament was played the weekend before Memorial Day. We were beaten the two games we played in the tournament. The team blames me because I wasn't there due to a prior commitment. We resumed practice last week and picked up were we left off. We picked up about four new residents who have a great chance of making the starting team.

The residents are enjoying this experience immensely. Players greet me with questions like "When is practice !"or "Who are we playing this week!" They come to my office and tell me how softball has changed some of their teammates, making them healthier and happier. I have noticed how appreciative the players are when they see how involved the staff has been with this team. I've also noticed how excited the staff has been about this experience and how willing they are to help out or give me softball tips.
We are in the process of inviting other teams to the park to scrimmage as well as looking into getting uniforms and shoes for the players as we look forward to the start of the Softball league and the NA AA July 4th Softball Tournament. With everyone's help and God's blessing hopefully we can do this every year.

Deloitte Day

2008-06-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Posting by Linda Miller, Volunteer and Community Resource Coordinator

Deloitte Impact Day was a great success- The Deloitte Team painted exterior walls and trim, painted the nurse's office, painted the dental room, sorted, folded and hung a new donation of business clothing and held a presentation on Managing Money for the residents and the staff. They spent the day and helped to make the lives of our residents more meaningful. They also donated clothing and other items along with donating money toward new microwaves, steel kitchen table for microwaves, motivational prints for the walls, lunch for the guys and much more importantly gave of their time and open their hearts to make the shelter a nicer place for our guys to live.

"Suiting Up For Success" a SUCCESS!

2008-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

A HUGE thank you to the community for coming out to the Woods on South and helping raise awareness for the Uptown Shelter! Another HUGE thank you to our very own Andrea Williams for helping coordinate this fantastic event! By the end of the night the Shelter had distributed tons of materials talking about the Shelter and had received two FULL racks of professional men's clothing (suits, shirts, ties, shoes...). Take a look at these excerpts in the Charlotte Observer covering the event:

PAUL WILLIAMS III - SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER
Jazz Jam and Professional Men's Clothing Drive

The music of trombonist Jeff Bradshaw blows guests away
at the Uptown Shelter's Jazz Jam and Professional Men's Clothing Drive May 2 at Woods on South. The more than 200 guests donated 60 suits - plus pants, jackets and ties for- men from the shelter to use on job interviews. Details:
. . '
wwvv.uptownshelter.org.
The Charlotte Observer Sunday, May 18, 2008
Section H

Uptown Shelter gets a helping· hand from gallery crawl

By Andrea Williams SPECIAL TO THE POST

The Uptown Shelter started its evening by being invited to be a part of 107.9 the Link's Gallery Crawl at Woods on South restaurant May 2 ..
This gave the agency an opportunity to expand community awareness of the. programs and services that it provides ..
Over 200 persons attended and the shelter collected over 60 suits, shirts, pants, blazers,
. ties and men's furnishings.
These items will be available to men who go on job interviews, as well as help those who are already employed to have some business appropriate items to add to their wardrobe.
Jay Delai from Q92.7 hosted the event and entertainment was provided by: Tom "Ja-
maica Funk" Browne, Trom- PAUL WilLIAMS III FOR THE CHARlOTIE POST Please see UPTOWN/3B

Uptown Shelter help
Continued from page 2B bonist Jeff Bradshaw and Charlotte band Intertwined.
Operating at or over capacity year-round, the Uptown Shelter can house about 250
men.
The Uptown Shelter is the only agency of its kind in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, serving adult men who are clean and sober. After going through the admissions process, men who enter the
shelter are assessed and then assigned a case manager. Treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues is available. Many shelter visitors are employed or are employed or are seeking employment.

Technology, Innovation and HOMELESSNESS?

2008-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

In this day and age technology is interwoven into nearly every part of our lives. For the job-seeker, having even rudimentary understanding of how technology works is an essential part of the basic qualifications for employment. Business is conducted through email, orders are placed on the web, even the cash register now has a full computer key-board attached to it. For many of the men that come through the Uptown Shelter though, concepts like "point and click" and "download and print" are foreign. The often overwhelming anxiety and frustration that comes with trying to navigate in our technological world pushes men away from otherwise great opportunities. To help the men of the Uptown Shelter become acquainted with and comfortable with this technology, we have developed a client kiosk, much like the ones used when processing your e-ticket at the airport. The client kiosk serves as an information center helping men learn more about the Shelter, access CATS bus line information, read about community resources available to them and cruise through a list of frequently asked questions. With over 200 men at the Shelter on any given night, and limited staff, the kiosk serves as a key information center when staff are not available. Although only in the evaluation stage right now we have high hopes for the future of the kiosk and the benefit it will provide for our residents.

Legislative Briefing - Federal Reserve Event

2008-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Post by Linda Miller, Uptown Shelter Volunteer & Community Resource Coordinator

As I entered the event hall in the Federal Reserve I was greeted by Demetria Jones from the United Way. She escorted me to a seating area with James Covington and his guest. James had never spoken before formally in front of a crowd about his life journey. When I asked him if he was nervous his answer was a distinct “Not Really.” Which is the answer anyone that knows James would expect.

The room was filled with upper level executives from Duke Power, Federal Reserve, United Way, Councilmen, Councilwomen and other Non- Profit Agency Administrators. Live background music was playing in a far corner. There were stations of finger foods and beverages set ups with servers attending. The lighting was dim and the mood was one of expectation.

James Covington was introduced to share his story about living through addiction and receiving life saving help from the Uptown Shelter and especially Brian Harris, his case manager at the shelter. He spoke so honestly and emotionally that people in the crowd were moved to tears. There was one very moving point he made in his presentation when he spoke about believing he was being guided by God as he stood on a bridge overlooking a highway and he considered jumping. Something inside of him refused to end his life. He decided instead to go to the Uptown Shelter were he received life saving support. He told of working our program and being guided by Brian. He said boldly “If it weren’t for the shelter I would be dead and not standing in front of you right now.”

He is now going to college and working on his Masters Degree in Human Services. James also comes twice weekly to volunteer at the Uptown Shelter to give back and comes to the Shelter on Sundays to pick up residents to bring them to his church so they can discover God as he did.

He ended with saying, “Someone once asked him what he was going to do to get the other homeless off the street?” He turned that around and asked that person what they were going to do.

Sister Mary Scullion Visit's the Shelter

2008-05-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the opportunity to host Sister Mary Scullion for a brief tour of the Shelter. Sister Mary visits us from Philidelphia where she is the founder of an organization called Project Home (http://www.projecthome.org/). Coordinated by Peter Safir from the County, Sister Mary visited several local organizations including McCreesh Place, Salvation Army and the Urban Ministry Center before concluding her visit with a talk on how Charlotte-Mecklenburg can break the cycle of homelessness.

"Suiting Up For Success"

2008-04-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Well I am just ecstatic about the event taking place this Friday to raise awareness, clothing and money for the Shelter! It is absolutely amazing how so many folks in the community have come together to put this Jazz event together. In a way this is Andrea's first "official" Public Relations initiative - way to go Andrea! I look forward to sharing more pictures and a summary of the outcome. For now, here is the invite...

Hope to see you there!

Church Appreciation Event

2008-04-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to debut the Shelter's first blog presence on the web! It is my hope that through this living - breathing communication tool you can remain aware of all the great things going on here at the Uptown Shelter. So - thank you Steve, my IT guru, for continuing to push the envelope here to keep our communication tools effective and relevant to our generation.

This last Wednesday Chuck, our Kitchen Manager, and Linda, our Volunteer & Community Resources Coordinator, lead a fantastic event to honor the over 65 churchs that serve food to the men in our kitchen. It gave some of the staff a great opportunity to finally meet and greet these silent heros. Without the support of our local churchs serving dinner 365 days a year the Shelter would have to bear a tremendous food expense that would preclude our programs from being as effective as they are. On average, our local churchs serve up an average of 10,000 individual meals contributing the monetary equivalent of over $2,500 a week, allowing the Shelter to invest the over $140,000 in in-kind food service to other areas to help mens lives such as services that help men get linked with jobs, counseling and other training and support.

Our relationship with the churchs becomes even more critical going into next year with an uncertain economy, rapid inflation on consumables, and our projected expansion in bed capacity (which means more mouths to feed). THANK YOU faith community for your continued support of our mission. We simply couldn't do all that we do for area homeless without your partnership!