Crisis Assistance Ministry

A stable home keeps so much of life in place: jobs, school, routines, and the sense that tomorrow will look a little like today.

But when most of a paycheck is going to housing, there is almost no room for a surprise car repair, a medical bill, or fewer hours at work. One bad month can snowball into a crisis that touches not just one family, but workplaces, classrooms, and entire neighborhoods.

That is why Crisis Assistance Ministry focuses on keeping families housed before things reach a breaking point.

When you support this work, you are helping a neighbor through a tough season and helping keep our broader community steadier, safer, and more connected.

💛 Read more about why housing stability matters:

Why Housing Stability Matters - Crisis Assistance Ministry Advocacy A stable home shapes daily life in ways that are easy to overlook until that stability is threatened. It holds routines in place, keeps parents connected to work, gives children more consistency, and makes it easier for families to recover from a setback. from the team at Crisis Assistance....

Cavity monsters do not take summer vacation.

With school out and camp, cookouts, and extra treats on the calendar, kids are snacking on more candy, popsicles, and sweets than usual. This week, our most needed Amazon Wishlist items are Crest Kid's Toothpaste and Colgate Kids Toothbrushes so children in families facing financial crisis can keep up with healthy oral hygiene all summer long.

You can shop our Amazon Wishlist and have toothpaste and toothbrushes shipped directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry, helping little smiles stay clean, strong, and cavity free while they enjoy their summer.

Here’s the link to give: https://ow.ly/SspE50Z9Tt6

This is the last chance to have your gift to Crisis Assistance Ministry doubled through the Match Challenge.

When you give $50, it becomes $100 to keep the lights on for a neighbor. $75 becomes $150 to help a family catch up on rent or pay a past-due utility bill. $100 becomes $200 to support coaching, counseling, and other services that help families move toward long‑term stability.

Your generosity today means twice as many neighbors can stay safely housed, keep power and water running, and get the support they need to get back on their feet.

This is the final call. Will you help your neighbors’ dollars go twice as far?
https://ow.ly/G9kP50ZcLEk

Happy Father’s Day to all who celebrate!

We’re lucky to have a father-daughter duo on our team who work side by side every day to build housing stability in our community. Dywoine, our Financial Stability Manager, and Shaynah, our Customer Service Representative, both play a big role in helping our neighbors navigate tough moments.

It’s special to see their shared commitment to this work and even more special knowing they get to do it together.

Join us in celebrating Dywoine and all the dads and father figures making a difference in big and small ways.

In observance of , Crisis Assistance Ministry is closed on Friday, June 19. We will resume our regular operating hours Saturday, June 20, to continue serving our community.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved Black people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday honors freedom and truth and reminds us that rights recognized in law do not always show up evenly in people’s daily lives.

Here in Mecklenburg County, Black neighbors are disproportionately affected by poverty, housing instability, and utility shutoffs. Our staff see these disparities every day as they help families facing eviction, past-due rent, or disconnection notices. For many of the people we serve, Juneteenth is part of their history and heritage.

Crisis Assistance Ministry is talking about Juneteenth because freedom and dignity include the ability to keep a safe, stable home. As we pause to observe the holiday, we also recommit to our mission of improving housing stability for all our neighbors.

Fresh starts begin in the smallest rooms.

This week’s most needed Amazon Wishlist items are Clorox toilet cleaner and toilet brushes – simple essentials that help families keep their bathrooms clean, fresh, and dignified, even while they are navigating a financial crisis.

You can shop our Amazon Wishlist and have cleaner and brushes shipped directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry, so neighbors in need can come home to a space that feels cared for too.

Here’s the link to give: https://ow.ly/kW1T50Z9TcC

In the early 1990s, we shifted to digital records.

With support from Mecklenburg County funding in the early 1990s, Crisis Assistance Ministry began using computer hardware and electronic recordkeeping to track assistance more accurately. Going “paperless before paperless was a thing” helped staff understand needs in real time, reduce duplication, and stretch limited resources further for neighbors facing financial crisis.

“It is no exaggeration to say you literally saved my life,” Robert told us.

After 23 years on the job, a serious injury, followed by his partner’s medical emergency, meant neither of them could work and the rent quickly fell behind. An eviction notice arrived. Because of generous donors, a payment went directly to Robert’s landlord, keeping Robert, his partner, and their beloved pets stably housed, along with guidance to help them stretch their budget for the months ahead.

Families like Robert’s are still having to choose between paying rent, buying groceries, or getting medical care. During our Match Challenge, every gift is doubled and helps keep more neighbors in their homes.

Will you rise to the challenge? Give Now & Double Your Impact https://ow.ly/ZWUb50Z9UeJ

Have you ever had a month where one unexpected bill threw everything off?

For many of our neighbors, every month feels like that. When so much of the paycheck goes to rent and utilities, there is no cushion left. A car repair, a sick child, or fewer hours at work can suddenly put a family’s housing on the line.

Housing instability does not just mean “finding another place to live.”
It can mean:

🧱Missing work because you are trying to resolve a crisis

🧱Kids changing schools or facing long commutes

🧱Sleepless nights and constant stress that make it hard to focus or plan ahead

At Crisis Assistance Ministry, we work to prevent that spiral.

Through emergency rent and utility assistance, access to clothing and household essentials, and financial coaching, we help families stay housed and regain breathing room during difficult seasons.

Because when a family can keep their home, everything else has a better chance of staying on track.

Learn more about why housing stability matters and how you can be part of the solution:

Why Housing Stability Matters - Crisis Assistance Ministry Advocacy A stable home shapes daily life in ways that are easy to overlook until that stability is threatened. It holds routines in place, keeps parents connected to work, gives children more consistency, and makes it easier for families to recover from a setback. from the team at Crisis Assistance....