Charlotte will financially help families hurt by layoffs, other hits to income

Charlotte is committing $100,000 to help households hurt by layoffs and other hits to their income, city officials said Friday.

The city will assist with rent and utility bills in the effort that begins Monday, officials said.

Crisis Assistance Ministry will handle applications from families and payments to them.

Funds will support households identified by the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, OurBRIDGE for Kids, Latin American Coalition, Carolina Migrant Network and other nonprofits.

Anyone interested in receiving support should reach out to the community organizations, officials said. They’ll need to show proof of household income, a Social Security number and photo ID.

The effort aligns with Charlotte’s “track record of supporting residents during extraordinary times such as displacement events and the COVID pandemic,” City Manager Marcus Jones said in a statement.

“As we head into the holiday season, it’s important for all of us to lean in and support each other,” Mayor Vi Lyles said in the statement. “We know many law-abiding people across Charlotte were financially hurt, and this support will help provide reassurances and comfort in what should be a festive time of year.”

Families hurt by federal enforcement action

Recent events “have profoundly impacted lives and families” in Charlotte’s immigrant community, said Larissa Mañón Mervin, CEO of Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.

The federal immigration enforcement operation dubbed “Charlotte’s Web” resulted in about 370 arrests in the Charlotte area. The Department of Homeland Security has not released most names of people taken.

“We continue to work tirelessly alongside our immigrant community and appreciate the City of Charlotte’s commitment to maintaining housing stability for impacted families in need,” Mervin said in the city statement.