CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents of North End’s “Tent City” hare scrambling to relocate after the county issued an order forcing them off the property due to inhumane conditions. Those who live at the encampment have to vacate the premises by Friday at 5 p.m.
All residents have been offered a hotel room or shelter space, but many community members are wondering what they can do to help.
[ ALSO READ: County provides Tent City residents with hotel rooms but for how long? ]
The short answer is to stay away. County leaders and nonprofits said there is a lot happening very fast and more people in the area will only make it worst right now.
“There are ways people can help but we would really ask the people not come to the site to help because we need to be able to start to relocate those people to the hotel, those that are willing to go,” Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio said.
Small county buses are shuttling residents to a hotel where they will receive three box meals a day and laundry services.
Once that’s done, community organizer Leondra Garrett says there will be plenty of opportunity to help.
“Please wait until these people are situated and then reach out to an organization that’s doing the work and let them get it to them” she said.
Community partners working with the county to help those living in the encampment include The Salvation Army, Block Love CLT, Hearts Beat as One, Hearts for the Invisible, Just Do It Movement, CATS, Loaves and Fishes and Goodwill.
Roof Above can be reached at 704-334-3187 or click here.
You can call the Salvation Army in Charlotte at 704-348-2560, ext. 207, or click here.
(Roof Above and the Salvation Army offer help for prospective employers who may be looking to hire someone who has experienced homelessness.)
You can volunteer with Block Love CLT. Food donations are also accepted and the organization has an Amazon Wish List linked on its website. For more information, call 980-288-4895 or email team@blockloveclt.org.
Loaves and Fishes food donations are distributed to people who need help. Call 704-523-4333 or click here.
Clothing can be dropped off at Goodwill donation centers. Click here to find one near you.
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