The hypothetical person is 18 and the Union County Shelter can’t take him. His parents are kicking him out because he consistently refuses to follow the home rules. He graduated high school, but has no one willing to give him a reference for a job.
Here’s what the interactive Union County Resource Hub recommends:
The most urgent priority is securing safe alternative shelter while using local programs built specifically for people entering the workforce without a typical work history.
1. Emergency Housing Alternatives (When Community Shelter is Full)
- Operation Reach-Out (Day Services & Basic Needs): While figuring out overnight shelter, he can use Operation Reach-Out for daily free lunches, shower and laundry facilities, personal care items, and day-use relief.
- Location: 1308 Miller St., Monroe, NC | Phone: 704-289-4237.
- Union County Crisis Assistance Ministry (UCCAM): Provides emergency assistance including short-term lodging aid, food, and personal care items.
- Location: 1335 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC | Phone: 704-225-0440.
- Ground 40 (Transitional Housing for Men): Operates a supportive, faith-based transitional environment in Monroe designed for young men navigating homelessness or major life transitions to build stability, housing, and community connections.
- Location: 303 Dale St., Monroe, NC | Phone: 704-883-5185.
- YWCA Central Carolinas Transitional Housing: Provides transitional housing programs and support services to help individuals stabilize and secure permanent housing.
- If he was ever in foster care or DSS custody: He qualifies for NC LINKS / Foster Care 18 to 21, which provides dedicated independent living funds, housing assistance, and case management. Contact the Union County DSS Foster Care Program Manager at 704-296-4410.
2. Overcoming the “No Job Reference” Barrier
Having no professional references after high school graduation is very common, and several local systems bypass this requirement or help build references quickly:
- NCWorks Career Center (Monroe): NCWorks specializes in entry-level placement, career counseling, and connecting job seekers directly to employers who hire based on skill assessments rather than past personal references. They can also help frame high school achievements on a resume.
- Website: NCWorks.gov | Phone: 855-629-6757 or 980-397-6400.
- GoodWork Staffing / Goodwill Industries:GoodWork Staffing (an arm of Goodwill) places individuals in immediate temp-to-hire or entry-level positions where previous supervisor references are not required to get started. Goodwill also offers free job search support and trade/skills workshops.
- Monroe Location: 4109 W. Highway 74, Monroe, NC | Phone: 704-289-3246.
- Build Fast References via Short-Term Volunteering: Spending even a few days volunteering at local organizations like Common Heart (704-218-9060), Operation Reach-Out (704-289-4237), or Loaves & Fishes (704-960-1486) gives him immediate supervisors who can observe his work ethic and serve as strong, verifiable character references.
- South Piedmont Community College (SPCC): Offers free training classes for unemployed individuals looking to gain job-ready technical skills and certificates that employers look for in place of work history.
- Phone: 704-290-5100 | Website: spcc.edu.
- Union County Public Library: He can use the public computers and internet at the Monroe Library branch to build a resume using Cypress Resume and receive free job-seeker support from staff.
- Location: 316 E. Windsor St., Monroe, NC | Phone: 704-283-8184.