We serve a fragile, at-risk population. The men and women coming to the Mission are aware of a need to make radical changes in their lives.  In 2004, over 500 men and women participated in our recovery programs. Seventy four percent of our clients admitted in 2004 were homeless.  The average client has been in jail or prison two to three times and some of them suffer from malnutrition.  Over 70% are dually diagnosed with addiction problems, as well as mental or emotional problems.

Homelessness is often the factor that triggers a realization that drug and alcohol abuse has ruined their lives. Mission clients are relapse-prone addicts that society has given up on, and many have given up on themselves. There is a waiting list for entry into the Mission’s programs. There are limited programs offered to those without insurance or funding. In addition, the community has witnessed changed lives in many of our clients and knows the Mission gives hope to those battling with addiction.

We serve adults 18 years and older. Our clients come to the Mission based on the positive reputation we have built over the last 67 years often on the recommendation of someone familiar with the program’s success rate, including our former clients.  Referrals are made by: probation officers, Mecklenburg County Detox, other substance abuse programs, church pastors, program graduates, coworkers, friends and family members.

Men and women come to us from all walks of life. Each person, regardless of how they learn about the Mission, personally calls to request admission into our program to indicate their commitment to begin their recovery. Each client has his/her own personal story and we work with them to help them address the issues that have brought them to our doors and have kept them from living a full and productive life.

704-334-4635

Lyn Breda – Executive Assistant ext 213

Patricia Cartayas – Accounting Manager ext 211

Dina Delevie – Receptionist/Payroll Clerk ext 201

Tiffanie Grissom – Accounting Assistant est 261

Richard Handy – IT Manager ext 232

Mike Hernon – Graphic Design/Web Design ext 203

Alice Jordan – HR Manager ext 216

Shante Anderson – Facility/Case Manager ext 11

Delita Chavis – Sust. Abuse Counselor 1 & Family Counselor ext 12

Linda Currie -  Program Director ext 14

Robin Eades – 3rd Shift Tech ext 11

Elaine Marlowe – Data Entry Associate ext 11

Betty McJunkin – Weekend facility Tech ext 11

Carolyn Odom – 1st Shift Facility Tech ext 10

Ronda Shock – Chaplain ext 11

Gwen Williams – 2nd Shift Facility Tech ext 11

704.334.4635

Admissions

704.334.4635

Wesley Boone – Admissions/Screening ext 241

Patrick Bassett – Admissions Tech (AM) ext 271

James Efird – Admissions Tech (PM) ext 271

Reginald Wilkins – Pre-Program Counselor ext 218

704.334.4635

Rosalie Brillante – Development Officer ext 260

Missy Dickinson – Development Associate ext 238

Rhonda Letso – Development Officer ext 240

Melissa Parrish – Donor Services Associate ext 266

Sue Rounds – Planned Giving Officer ext 224

Lynn Swisshelm – Grant Writer/Auction ext 256

Andria Tindall – Volunteer Coordinator ext 214

Tim Troutman – Donor Services Supervisor ext 245

Mike Hernon – Matching Gifts ext 203

A: Since we are a Christian ministry, if we were to accept funding from either of those sources, we would have to alter our message and our approach of recovery.  We believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the key to our successful recovery program.

Q: How do I enroll my loved one in your program?

A: Your loved one needs to call our admission program.  You cannot call for them. See our section on admissions for more detail.

Q: What types of donations do you accept?

A: Please see our needs list.

Q: Do you pick up donations?

A: Yes. Please call our pick up line at 704-566-0405.

Q: How many stay clean and sober in the long term?

A: After one year, about 75% of our clients are still clean & sober.  See our section on Post Completion Tracking for more details.

Q: Why are there so few women compared to men?

A: The bed capacity for Dove’s Nest simply limits the program.  Our next step of expansion will be to add more beds for the women.

Q: In Dove’s Nest, what happens to their children?

A: Unfortunately, most of the women lost custody due to their years of active addiction.  One of their goals is to regain custody of their children.

Q: What are the requirements for entry?

A: A person simply says three words, “I want help.”  They need to be able to pass a drug test and a breathalyzer and often require going to detox before entering the men’s or women’s program.

Q: Where does funding come from?

A: Sixty percent of our funding comes from individuals, 11% comes from in kind, 7% comes from bequest, 5 ½% comes from churches, 3% comes from foundations, 6% from businesses, and 8% comes from others.

Q: Do you have a waiting list?

A: Yes and our beds stay full.

Q: Do your numbers go down in the summertime?

A: No.  We stay full 12 months a year.

Q: What are the biggest needs?

A: Financial support is always our biggest need.  Also see our needs list or subscribe to our blog to be alerted when other needs arise.

Q: What’s the difference between 12-Step vs. the Christian 12-Steps?

A: In the Christian 12-Steps, we identify the higher power as the person of Jesus Christ.

Q: How can a donor help?

A:  #1 –Pledge to become a monthly partner to the Friends of the Friendless program.
#2 – Tell your church or friends about the Charlotte Rescue Mission.
#3 –Have a speaker from the Charlotte Rescue Mission speak at your church.
#4 –Have your Sunday school class take on a project for the Mission.

Q: Who are we owned by/part of?

A: Charlotte Rescue Mission is stand alone nonprofit organization.  It is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions representing 250 rescue missions around the country.

Q: Why is your program so much more successful than others?

A: We incorporate both a clinical model using counselors who certified and highly educated so they have the clinical knowledge of treating the addictive while also having a calling to full time Christian service.

We never sell or rent our supporters’ names.

By John Cox – consultant on benchmarking

September 2004

FREE – The Rebound and Dove’s Nest programs are free to all CRM clients.

COMPLETION RATE – The completion rate on average continues to be twice the national average for homeless substance abuse services with approximately the same budget.

PERCENTAGES – CRM’s fundraising cost for fiscal year 2003-2004 was 21.9 percent (without government or United Way funding) and is lower than the American Institute of Philanthropy’s suggestion of less than 35 percent.

PROFESSIONALISM – CRM staff continues to professionally execute responsibilities, attitude, concerned for improvement, policies and procedures. The CRM clinical staff has 25 different certifications/degrees directed toward counseling. Data development enables the staff to utilize information to improve the services provided the client.

COMPREHENSIVE MODEL – The Mission’s recovery program is a proven comprehensive model which includes spiritual, psychological/emotional, social, physical, and vocational components.

CLINICAL TOOLS – The model selected by CRM utilizes a Christian 12-step program. Substance abuse counselors use a variety of methods to enhance these clinical tools. This allows them to interface with the clients at a higher level of efficiency and professionalism which has a track record of changing lives.

RATIO – CRM’s counselor to client ratio is currently one counselor to twelve clients. In CRM’s strategic planning, the minimum standard objective is a one counselor to a maximum of ten clients. To maintain the excellence of CRM’s recovery program, the counselor to client ratio needs to improve.

ADDICTION – As one counselor said, “The clients are typically homeless and indigent when they come to CRM. They more than likely lost their job because of addiction and consequently lost their home and probably their family relationship because of addiction. They are addicted first and then become homeless.”

CONCLUSION – We conclude Charlotte Rescue Mission is highly unique in the region. The combination of the comprehensive recovery program, professionalism and the conduct of staff’s responsibilities, certification, experience and dedication of counselors, when combined with the fact that there is no charge to clients are only unduplicated but importantly highly successful.

RECOMMENDATIONS – Post completion tracking – it is strongly suggested that CRM plan for post completion tracking. A minimum of three years of tracking will provide needed insight into the value of the mission’s program and success.

Update: Since the time of this study, Charlotte Rescue Mission has implemented a successful post completion tracking program.  We now have a full time employee who tracks clients after they have completed the program and moved on.  So far, we have found amazing results; clients on average are maintaining sobriety at a rate of about 75% a year after they complete the program!

Gary Kaufman, Program Director – Rebound Gary Kaufman has been the Program Director of Rebound since 1991. Gary is a Certified Clinical Addictions Specialist (CCAS), a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of North Carolina. He is also internationally certified as a drug and alcohol counselor. He graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees and received his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Click HERE to view entire Rebound staff.

E.J. Underwood, Director of Development E. J. is the Director of Development at the Charlotte Rescue Mission, a position she has held since 1992. E.J. graduated from Smithdeal Massey Business College in Richmond, VA and received a certificate from Duke University in Nonprofit Management. E.J.’s professional experience publishing a weekly shopper, The Penny Saver and 16 years in Engineering and Data Processing with the JC Penney Co. She is active in the Association for Fundraising Professionals, the Metrolina Business Council, and Carmel Baptist Church.

Click HERE to view entire Development staff.

Chris Moore, Director of Finance and Administration Chris Moore is a CPA with over 16 years of experience in public, governmental, private “for profit”, and not-for-profit accounting. Chris is a former president of the Board of Directors for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Brevard County, Florida.

Click HERE to view entire Administrative staff.

Linda Currie, Interim Program Director – Dove’s Nest

Charlotte Rescue Mission is located uptown near Bank of America stadium and Johnson & Wales University off of Cedar St.

Our address is: 907 W First St. Charlotte, NC 28202
(Click for a Google Map)