CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - As housing prices and the costs of living continue to rise, Crisis Assistance Ministry and Duke Energy are partnering up to help people facing financial challenges in the community.
By the end of 2024, the ministry was able to provide nearly $700 on average to families in need.
Duke Energy says they see usage spike during the winter and the summer months. This summer temperatures have hit the triple digits.
Ten years after walking into Crisis Assistance Ministry for the first time, Shara Clark is now an advocate for aid. She says, "Having a central hub in the community was not only beneficial for me but beneficial for some other families."
For the last 50 years, Crisis Assistance Ministry has helped people with emergency rent, utility assistance, household goods, clothing, and finance management.
Clark has experienced financial hardships and at one point homelessness.
She says she just recently went through a period where she needed help.
"Bills and my finances, they wasn't communicating at all. And so, I had to communicate to outside help."
Now, she wants others to know what's available.
The nonprofit says this year, on average, they've seen a 114% increase in the community's emergency needs and around 125 households come here a day for relief.
Crisis Assistance Ministry's director of communications Tovi Martin says, "Evictions are up, housing is hard to find. Someone that makes minimum wage would have to work four and a half full-time jobs in order to afford the average apartment and that trickles down."
Crisis Assistance Ministry partners with Duke Energy whose foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, contributed $100,000 this summer to help support organizations that offer assistance.
"That's why it's important for us to share with our community how our customers can get help when they need it," said Duke Energy spokesperson Caroline Fountain.
Clark has a 27-year-old daughter and grandchildren. She says she wants to take what she's learned here to help show them how to succeed.
"Now, she's getting to see the reward from the struggle that I had to go through," Clark said. "I want her to see how much of an impact that what I'm doing is not only having on my life but hers as well."
More information about Crisis Assistance Ministry and the services they offer can be found here. More information about Duke Energy Foundation can be found here.