The Urban Ministry Center and Men’s Shelter of Charlotte will merge into one organization dedicated to ending homelessness, the two groups announced Wednesday.The boards of the two groups voted Tuesday to merge. Liz Clasen-Kelly, the Men’s Charlotte executive director, will lead the new group. Dale Mullennix, the longtime director of the Urban Ministry Center, is retiring in May.
Mullennix said in a news release that the "stars have aligned" to merge the two groups and have Clasen-Kelly lead the new organization.
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The Men’s Shelter operates two shelters with more than 400 beds. The Urban Ministry Center has a day center that gives the homeless basic services and a substance abuse recovery program. The center also owns and manages Moore Place, an apartment complex, and it partners with other organizations to operate Room in the Inn, which places homeless people in different shelters during the winter.
The two groups will officially combine in May.
Mecklenburg County counted 1,668 homeless people during a one-time count last year.
