CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte nonprofits that help people experiencing homelessness are pleading for help.
They say they’re out of shelter space and the need will grow exponentially in the coming months. Advocates are calling on the faith community to help.
"It's literally babies sleeping outside in tents," Jessica Lefkowitz, executive director of Hearts for the Invisible, said.
Charlotte has a growing homelessness problem and nonprofits are scrambling to help families who can’t find shelter together but refuse to separate, so they stay outside. As temperatures drop, more unsheltered people will be looking for places to go.
"My concern in the colder months is that we're not gonna have enough shelter to support [the families]," Lefkowitz said.
Roof Above operates three men's shelters in Charlotte, which have more than 530 beds.
"For several months now [they have] always been full," Randall Hitt, the vice president of unsheltered services for Roof Above, said.
Hitt added that the agency's outreach teams are finding more families on the streets.
"We're identifying more women and children, and I think those are the hardest beds to kind of find in our community," Hitt said.
Finding shelter for families is hard because most shelters are either for women and their children or only for men, so intact families often can't stay together if they want a bed.
"It makes it very, very challenging for us to help," Lefkowitz added.
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If families do choose to separate, there simply isn’t enough space for everyone right now. A temporary solution between December and April is Roof Above’s "Room in the Inn" program. Hitt explained the program is made possible because of the partnership between several sites across Mecklenburg County, mostly congregations and churches that provide a place for people to stay.
But right now, Roof Above needs more partners to make room for the growing need.
"I'm really hoping that more churches step up because we are going to need it," Lefkowitz added.
While they look for shelter solutions ahead of winter, both Lefkowitz and Hitt said the long-term solution is more affordable housing for very low-income renters.
If interested in helping Roof Above's winter shelter program, they have information on their website on how to sign up.
Plus, Hearts for the Invisible needs sleeping bags and blankets for unsheltered individuals. Lefkowitz said to contact her organization and she can schedule pickups or drop-offs.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.