Amid a growing crisis of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking in Charlotte, NC, a new resource is taking shape to support survivors and rebuild lives. The Umbrella Center brings together vital community partners, including neighborhood associations, healthcare providers, Mecklenburg County departments, and nonprofits, under one roof to provide coordinated, trauma-informed care. Enhanced Capital provided financing for the project through its Federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation, helping to address the urgent need for comprehensive support and expand the region’s capacity to care for victims of interpersonal violence.
Building on the success of its Survivor Resource Center, a pilot program that has supported roughly 1,000 individuals annually, The Umbrella Center facility will further expand capacity and services. With a new 88,000-square-foot Family Justice Center—the first in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, and the seventh in the state. It joins a growing network of more than 150 Family Justice Centers across the U.S. and another 150 worldwide, underscoring the impact and credibility of this model.[1]
The center will bring a full spectrum of services under one roof. From counseling, legal aid, and medical care to housing assistance and safety planning, the center is designed to provide victims and survivors with immediate and coordinated support. Its location, only minutes from downtown with public transit on-site, ensures the center is easily accessible by the local community.
Once complete, The Umbrella Center is expected to serve 10,000 to 12,000 individuals annually—ten times the reach of the pilot program. The project will also create nearly 28 new permanent jobs and retain 180 more, while housing agencies such as the District Attorney’s Office, Department of Social Services, and local law enforcement. Community partners include Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, and Safe Alliance.
By providing a centralized hub for treatment and resources, and with financing support from Enhanced Capital, The Umbrella Center represents a major step forward in Charlotte’s efforts to prevent violence and support survivors.
………………….
[1] Alliance for HOPE International. Family Justice Center Impact Report / 2025 Update. January 2025, www.allianceforhope.org/preview-file/719
About The Umbrella Center
The Umbrella Center is an innovative public-private collaboration to provide holistic services at a single location for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking and child abuse. The Umbrella Center is designed to change each step of a victim’s experience to help people recover their lives – including police response, medical care, advocacy and counseling, legal and court procedures. When opened, The Umbrella Center will serve over 10,000 annually, co-locate 15 partners to streamline case investigations, mitigate access barriers to effective care, and support survivors’ healing after experiencing abuse.