How We Help

Urban Ministries is a leader in the private, non-profit sector and an active collaborator in addressing poverty, homelessness, and heath care for the uninsured.  The quality of our services and commitment to those in need is recognized by our diverse supporters, our peers, and most importantly, by the people we serve.

Our Mission

Urban Ministries of Wake County is a non-profit human service organization that alleviates the effects of poverty in Wake County by meeting people’s basic needs for food, shelter, and healthcare, providing services that promote self sufficiency, and building awareness of the issues of poverty within the larger community by leveraging financial support with volunteers and in-kind contributions.

How We Achieve Our Mission

We are EFFECTIVE:

• Our largest program is the Open Door Clinic, which provides comprehensive, primary medical care and full pharmacy services to uninsured, low-income adults.  The growth in the Clinic is staggering – from nearly 5,000 patient and diabetes management visits to nearly 9,000 in three years!  We filled more than 52,000 prescriptions in the past year alone.  The Clinic helps keep people healthy, working and better able to support their families.  Our services keep patients out of emergency rooms and costly inpatient stays, which can save our community more than $6 million a year. 
• The Urban Ministries Food Pantry is the second largest in Wake County.  Last year, we distributed 240 tons of food (404,000 meals!) and served 8,290 families, including 9,000 children.
• The JobLink office provides employment assistance and online job searches and is the busiest center of its kind in Wake County. Last year, the Crisis Support Program provided social work counsel and referrals to nearly 7,000 individuals and families in crisis. 
• The Helen Wright Center for Women provides shelter and support for women who are rebuilding their lives and gaining independence.  Last year, the Center served 300 homeless women and helped nearly 40% move from homelessness to a stable life. 

 We are EFFICIENT:   94 cents of every dollar goes directly to client services.   

 We ENGAGE volunteers in improving the community:  We offer numerous volunteer opportunities – conducting food drives, preparing and serving meals for shelter residents, working in our clinic, providing patient care, and assisting clients with eligibility for services, just to name a few.  Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers donated over 37,000 hours of free services – the equivalent of 20 full-time staff. 

Who We Serve

In Wake County, more than 82,000 people live in poverty.  Urban Ministries touches the lives of more than 23,000 diverse clients every year.  The average income of our clients for a family of four is $19,435. Approximately 69% are women; 31% male.  All clients must provide proof that they are residents of Wake County. Individuals eligible for the Open Door Clinic must provide proof of an income level at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline and have no health insurance, including Medicare or Medicaid.