life
There’s Still Hope
Local Organization Helps Charlotte’s Homeless Population During Pandemic By Chris Rudisill | Qnotes contributor
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working full-time in a warehouse job in fter a Charlotte, N.C. hotel shut down Charlotte and has a little over a month left in in May, some members of the LGBTQ the program. community were left with limited opMany people that call Hopkins for help tions. The hotel has been in a legal battle do not have any formal education or training with residents over the evictions since April. — with many of them dropping out of high Deshon Medley, who identifies as gay, school. She helps to offer skills-training so was one of those people facing homelessthey can get stable employment. Some of ness. He had been living at the hotel since these partners have helped Medley get back February. Prior to that, he was at a local on needed medication since he got in the Budget Inn. When faced with eviction, he got program, and he is learning how to manage in touch with Rev. Debra Hopkins at There’s his finances. Still Hope through a friend at the hotel. There’s Still Hope is an outreach program of Essentials for Life Ministries. It is designed to provide safe, emergency and temporary alternatives to shelters. While the organizaThe 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 individustands 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 Rev. Debra Hopkins has brought her compassion and caring to the Essentials for Life Ministries’ to seven days, but COVID-19 forced them to choice beyond the street or shelters, which There’s Still Hope program for the homeless. (Photo Credit: Chris Rudisill) reevaluate and the current program offers 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 where many see limited options. “We can help you, but the six months, they should be able to be in the current need, which means more than you have a responsibility as well,” Hopkins explains to new stable housing someplace,” says Hopkins. Because of the 55,000 Charlotteans don’t currently have an affordable clients during their initial conversation. safety of transgender residents, some of whom have been place to live.” The city compares that to three-quarters of The Steps to Stability Program purposively relocates the victims of domestic abuse, Hopkins asked to keep the the Panthers stadium. individuals out of areas that are prone to sex work and location of the extended-stay hotels private. Other barriers exist as well. Many renters require apcrime. “You have a place to live. You can go out and catch Residents in the program must adhere to certain plicants to show proof that they make two to three times the bus and walk up to the grocery store — you can do requirements, including those assigned by the housing the monthly rent and many are turned away if they have all these things in the locations that I place them,” says location. That includes having a state-issued photo ID and had any previous evictions. Due to the lack of affordHopkins referring to the clients of There’s Still Hope. With something that Hopkins is adamant about — stopping preable units, cheap apartments do not stay on the market funding limited, it is important for vious behaviors like for long. According to Inlivian, the tenant-based Housing clients to adhere to the rules. “We sex work or substance Choice Voucher, otherwise known as Section 8, the waiting do 50 questions to find out where abuse. They pay up to list is currently closed to new applicants. According to its they are — mentally, physically $25 a week in grocerwebsite, there are currently more than 6,000 households and emotionally,” states Hopkins. ies and provide bus on the list. “We try to plug them into those passes for job search Hopkins has a dream of creating a transitional housing programs, whether it be subactivities or support facility in Charlotte for the transgender community. The stance abuse or mental health issues.” services during the first three months. Residents are excurrent housing that There’s Still Hope provides consists Medley grew up in the Wilmore neighborhood of pected to have stable employment by the second phase. of studio-style apartments with full kitchens, something Charlotte, an area that experienced massive gentrificaTransgender women are often forced into sex work. she would like to make permanent. For years, Hopkins has tion in the 2000s. He has not been forced to work in the The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) sought investors to help purchase a small, abandoned hotel sex trade, but he has been on his own since he was 18 found that many transgender people participate in the that can be converted into up to 40 studio units with on-site years old. He has lived on the street and bounced around sex trade to earn income or as an alternative to relying management. The amenities are designed to help someone from place to place over the past year. “I’m grateful for the on homeless shelters and food banks. Hopkins, who is opportunity that I have now,” says Medley. He is currently transgender, understands that reality, but offers a chance see next page u
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Oct. 30-Nov. 12, 2020
