It’s
a start, a darn good start; Why not every business with a heart?
'It
takes your headache away':
Car
dealership provides safe place for homeless to park and sleep overnight.
Mar
10, 2020
By
Alicia Lee, CNN
CHARLOTTE,
N.C. —
Just
like any other used-car dealership, during the day, Kiplin Automotive Group
sells cars.
But
as night falls and others return home, Kiplin Auto's manager James Charles
turns on the lights and transforms the dealership
into
a haven for those who are homeless and living in their cars.
With
its well-lit lot, security cameras and welcome invitation, the car dealership
in Charlotte, North Carolina,
offers
homeless men, women and families a safe place to park and spend the night
without worrying about whether they're breaking the law or trespassing.
That
peace of mind means everything to those living in their car, according to
Davina Stephens, who has lived in her car on and off for the past eight months.
Stephens,
46, currently works at a bank call center, but when she accepted the job, she
was let go at her previous job three weeks too soon.
"Weeks
of no income set me back," Stephens told CNN. "It's hard to dig
yourself out of a hole when you don't have savings and things like that."
She
was eventually evicted and although she tried to make some cash by giving
people rides, she had no choice but to live in her 2012 Chevrolet Impala.
At
night, Stephens would pull into the parking lots of fast-food restaurants, gas
stations and apartment complexes that were under construction.
She
would try to sleep but would often be awakened by the blinding flashlights of
security guards who told her to move along.
But
a few weeks ago, Stephens was scrolling through Facebook and saw a post by
Charles that said he was offering his dealership
It’s
not news that people are sleeping in their cars at night.
Searching
for a safe place to park free from disturbance, trespassing, harassment or
worse. Homelessness in the city is on the rise.
We
have been praying and asking God what to do with some extra space we have had
for years. Well the answer was clear 6 years ago but the means was not.
We
know that some families are struggling and in a tough situation. Yea whole
families sleeping in the car. You would say but the shelters??
They
are full guys. We have experienced that first hand. We went to pick up a car
from a client 6 years ago who had stopped paying. Only to find she was sleeping
in the car.
We
put her in a hotel until she could find a place but all and I mean all the
shelters were full.
That’s
when we asked God why are we here. 6 years later we have one piece of the
puzzle.
We
would like to designate a safe place for those going through this tough time.
We
can’t put everyone in a hotel but we can get you a safe place for the night.
Please
spread the word that they should check in with us. @ 3515 Brookshire Blvd. call
James 704-201-7601
We
will provide a safe place to park at night.
As
this service to the community develops we will look to help these families in
other ways but right now a safe place is what we can offer.
If
you need this please call 704-201-7601 ask for james.
Love and blessings from
Creator to You All
Shechaim Ohjieshan
Whoopi
said,
“Don’t get scared,
It’s your country, take it back”!
Elijah
Cummings
said;
“This is our Watch”!
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