Solidarity

This Friday night, Homeless Helping Homeless, a grass-roots group advocating for people experiencing homelessness, will hold a Solidarity Sleep Out in Uptown Charlotte's Marshall Park. Winter has come to an end and, so, the emergency shelter programs that operate only during the winter months are now closing. The result is that beginning May 1st at least 200-300 homeless men will have no access to emergency shelter. Uptown Shelter has expanded its capacity to 268 beds, but it isn't nearly enough. In addition, the immediate need for emergency shelter space in Charlotte for women, children, and families continues to surpass capacity.

This is a COMMUNITY issue and I hope the community will turn out in force to hear more about the problem, raise their collective voice to demand a solution, and fellowship with our less fortunate citizens. The rally beginning at 7pm has an impressive line up of speakers and entertainment. Elected officials, nonprofit leaders, those experiencing homelessness, faith leaders, and students all plan to participate. Afterwards all are invited to spend the night in the park - the housed and the homeless.

Charlotte - Mecklenburg County is a wonderful place to live, work, and play. After only six or seven months living here my family has adopted the community as our hometown. However, as a community we have for too long ignored our most vulnerable citizens and now we have a crisis on our hands. Please join me Friday as we all work in SOLIDARITY to make sure everyone has a roof over their heads.