Charlotte Men’s Shelter Hosting Grand Re-Opening After Massive $5.8 Million Overhaul

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The Men’s Shelter of Charlotte is about to celebrate the Grand Opening of its renovated 1210 N. Tryon shelter on August 16th. The event marks the culmination of years of work and countless acts of generosity to help men begin their journey out of homelessness. Tours will be offered from 3pm – 5pm, with a short program at 4 pm, recognizing the donors, volunteers, staff, and the construction team that made the transformation possible.

Men’s Shelter of Charlotte raised $5.8 million for the project, buoyed by an anonymous $1 million gift and strong support from individuals, congregations, and foundations, including a $1.4 million investment from the City of Charlotte, NC Housing Finance Agency and Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

The project is wrapping up within budget and within days of the initial deadline. Special thanks go to Shelco, Overcash Demmitt Architects, Little, and architect David Furman for major contributions to the renovation effort. The renovation was not an easy one. The shelter opened in 1985, retrofitted from a plumbing supply warehouse constructed in the 1950s. Since that time, the building had fallen into disrepair after more than three decades of sheltering thousands of men experiencing homelessness.

The 230 men who will be served each night at the newly refurbished shelter will be welcomed with significant basic facility improvements (new pipes, HVAC system, ductwork, roof, kitchen equipment), greatly improved privacy and dignity in the sleeping dormitory and bathrooms, and much more hospitable and functional communal spaces, including the addition of “Hope Plaza,” a small park for guests to enjoy.

“We’ve long been providing excellent programs and services to help guests end their experience with homelessness. And, now we’ve finally got a facility matched in quality,” says former Board Chair and Campaign Co-Chair Will Alston. Alston adds that the new facility will only “improve our work to connect guests to housing.”

During the nearly 5-month renovation, services for the approximately 200 guests at the Tryon shelter have continued at two temporary locations, thanks to support from hundreds of volunteers. Guests will return to the shelter on Saturday, August 18th and the temporary sites will be closed.

Men’s Shelter of Charlotte currently provides shelter to 350 men a night across two campuses (Tryon St. & Statesville Ave). Post renovation, the campuses combined will increase to 400 men a night (230 at Tryon St. and 170 at Statesville Ave.).

“We are humbled by the extraordinary support from across our community,” says Liz Clasen-Kelly, Executive Director, Men’s Shelter of Charlotte. “We’ve created an atmosphere that is much more hospitable, helpful and hopeful. We see the completion of the renovation not as an end – but as just the beginning.”

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