There’s Still Hope

There’s Still hope Local Organization Helps Charlotte’s Homeless Population During Pandemic

BY ChRIS RudISILL | QNOTES CONTRIBuTOR

After a Charlotte, N.C. hotel shut down working full-time in a warehouse job in in May, some members of the LGBTQ Charlotte and has a little over a month left in community were left with limited op- the program. tions. The hotel has been in a legal battle Many people that call Hopkins for help with residents over the evictions since April. do not have any formal education or training Deshon Medley, who identifies as gay, — with many of them dropping out of high was one of those people facing homeless- school. She helps to offer skills-training so ness. He had been living at the hotel since they can get stable employment. Some of February. Prior to that, he was at a local these partners have helped Medley get back Budget Inn. When faced with eviction, he got on needed medication since he got in the in touch with Rev. Debra Hopkins at There’s program, and he is learning how to manage Still Hope through a friend at the hotel. his finances.

There’s Still Hope is an outreach program of Essentials for Life Ministries. It is designed to provide safe, emergency and temporary LIMITEd OPTIONS alternatives to shelters. While the organiza- The decision, or necessity, to live at a tion focuses on assisting adult transgender hotel is confusing to some who question the women, the pandemic has increased the need cost and its lack of stability. While rents have for others like the 23-year-old Medley in the declined since the onset of COVID-19, the LGBTQ community. median rent for a one-bedroom apartment

They are currently housing three individu- stands at $1,068 according to Apartment List. als through the end of the year. All three are Most apartments require income history, currently employed, despite the difficulties in application and administration fees and some securing jobs during the pandemic. Originally, form of deposit. Affordable options in the city There’s Still Hope supported people for one are limited, leaving hotels as often the only to seven days, but COVID-19 forced them to Rev. debra hopkins has brought her compassion and caring to the Essentials for Life Ministries’ choice beyond the street or shelters, which reevaluate and the current program offers There’s Still hope program for the homeless. (Photo Credit: Chris Rudisill) also struggle with capacity. According to the six months of transitional housing, support City of Charlotte, “the city needs an additional services and weekly groceries. “By the end of 24,000 units of affordable housing to meet the six months, they should be able to be in where many see limited options. “We can help you, but the current need, which means more than stable housing someplace,” says Hopkins. Because of the you have a responsibility as well,” Hopkins explains to new 55,000 Charlotteans don’t currently have an affordable safety of transgender residents, some of whom have been clients during their initial conversation. place to live.” The city compares that to three-quarters of the victims of domestic abuse, Hopkins asked to keep the The Steps to Stability Program purposively relocates the Panthers stadium. location of the extended-stay hotels private. individuals out of areas that are prone to sex work and Other barriers exist as well. Many renters require ap-

Residents in the program must adhere to certain crime. “You have a place to live. You can go out and catch plicants to show proof that they make two to three times requirements, including those assigned by the housing the bus and walk up to the grocery store — you can do the monthly rent and many are turned away if they have location. That includes having a state-issued photo ID and all these things in the locations that I place them,” says had any previous evictions. Due to the lack of affordsomething that Hopkins is adamant about — stopping pre- Hopkins referring to the clients of There’s Still Hope. With able units, cheap apartments do not stay on the market vious behaviors like funding limited, it is important for for long. According to Inlivian, the tenant-based Housing sex work or substance clients to adhere to the rules. “We Choice Voucher, otherwise known as Section 8, the waiting abuse. They pay up to do 50 questions to find out where list is currently closed to new applicants. According to its $25 a week in grocer- they are — mentally, physically website, there are currently more than 6,000 households ies and provide bus and emotionally,” states Hopkins. on the list. passes for job search “We try to plug them into those Hopkins has a dream of creating a transitional housing activities or support programs, whether it be sub- facility in Charlotte for the transgender community. The services during the first three months. Residents are ex- stance abuse or mental health issues.” current housing that There’s Still Hope provides consists pected to have stable employment by the second phase. Medley grew up in the Wilmore neighborhood of of studio-style apartments with full kitchens, something

Transgender women are often forced into sex work. Charlotte, an area that experienced massive gentrifica- she would like to make permanent. For years, Hopkins has The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) tion in the 2000s. He has not been forced to work in the sought investors to help purchase a small, abandoned hotel found that many transgender people participate in the sex trade, but he has been on his own since he was 18 that can be converted into up to 40 studio units with on-site sex trade to earn income or as an alternative to relying years old. He has lived on the street and bounced around management. The amenities are designed to help someone on homeless shelters and food banks. Hopkins, who is from place to place over the past year. “I’m grateful for the transgender, understands that reality, but offers a chance opportunity that I have now,” says Medley. He is currently see next page u