Person comforting distressed teenager sitting with head covered by hood, hand on forehead, supportive gesture in indoor setting, emotional support and empathy visible

CARES Community Assistance: Respond, Engage, Support

CARES is a civilian response team composed of social workers and a care navigator offering an alternate response to low-level 911 calls for service related to unhoused individuals in parts of Mecklenburg County.

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Please only request street outreach support for people experiencing literal homelessness, which means a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation.

About the CARES Team

  • CARES logo

  • What CARES Does

    Responds to low-level direct 911 calls regarding individuals who are unhoused, immediate requests from CMPD officers, and referrals from the CLT+ mobile app.

    Proactively engages with unhoused individuals while in the field and can provide supplies not limited to wellness bags and seasonal supplies as needed.  

    Can complete Coordinated Entry housing assessments to develop a housing plan for clients.

    Refers to housing service providers and community resources such as health insurance, food assistance, and mental health and substance treatment services.

    Assists with securing personal documents such as identification cards, Social Security cards, and birth certificates.

    Provides client-centered case navigation.

Where CARES Responds

CARES serves four CMPD patrol divisions, which are illustrated on the map:

  • Central
  • Metro
  • North Tryon
  • Westover

Individuals located outside of these areas are served by additional Street Outreach teams throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

CARES Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday: 7am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm

How to Contact CARES

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Patrol Divisions Map

How to Access CARES Services

You can access CARES services in two ways:

  • Option 1: Call 911 and Request CARES

    Call 911 and request the CARES team for individuals within our coverage areas (Central, Metro, North Tryon, and Westover CMPD patrol divisions).

  • Option 2: Complete a Homeless Outreach Referral

    Complete a homeless outreach referral in the CLT+ app or on the City of Charlotte website.

Resources

CARES does not endorse any of the providers, organizations, or services listed here. This information can change at any time and is not a complete list of services available in Mecklenburg County.

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