Tag Archives | CEF

Preparing for Cold Weather Shelter Season at IFC

By on 10/28/25 in About, Chapel Hill, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News
IFC Cold Weather Shelter

The cooler weather has arrived, and Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) is working hard to prepare accommodations for additional overnight guests this season.

From Friday, October 31 through March 31, IFC’s Community House and HomeStart will provide cold weather shelter on consecutive nights. We’re beginning one day earlier this year to help guests get settled in before the weekend begins.

  • HomeStart can accommodate 3 additional women
  • Community House can accommodate 17 additional men

How to Access Cold Weather Shelter

Individuals seeking shelter can reserve a spot by calling IFC’s main number: (919) 929-6380

  • Press x3000 for Community House
  • Press x4000 for HomeStart

Starting October 31 at 11am: Staff will begin taking calls and adding names to the list.
Beginning November 1: People can call after 4pm daily to check for open shelter slots.

Arrival and Departure

  • Guests should arrive between 6pm and 8pm nightly
  • Departure is by 8am each morning
  • Guests may keep their cold weather bed by checking in every night. If a night is missed, they’ll need to call again to be added back to the list.
  • Guests must provide their own transportation (Chapel Hill Transit is available).

Meals at IFC Commons

  • Continental breakfast: Begins at 10am (dependent on donations and availability)
  • Lunch: Served daily at 11:15am
  • Dinner: Served Monday–Friday at 5:15pm

Please note: Cold weather guests should eat before arriving at the shelter, as dining and kitchen facilities are not available in the evening.

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CEF’s Chapel Hill Office is Relocating to Carrboro!

By on 7/30/25 in About, Chapel Hill, General
We're Moving!

CEF’s Chapel Hill office is relocating to the Community Worx building in Carrboro!

New Address:
125 W. Main St., Suite 200
Carrboro, NC

On the side of the building, you’ll see a metal railing leading to the steps or elevator to Floor 3.

Important Dates:

  • Office Closure: August 11 – September 1, 2025
  • Reopening: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 10:30 AM
  • Community Fridge: Open through August 15, 2025

New Office Hours (Starting September 2, 2025):

  • Monday – Thursday:
    10:30 AM – 12:30 PM & 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday: Closed

Thank you for your patience as we make this transition. We look forward to welcoming you to our new space!

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Thank You for Powering Our Mission: 2024 Annual Report Release Celebration

By on 4/14/25 in About, Annual Reports, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Newsletters

We’re incredibly grateful for your continued commitment to CEF and our mission to end the racial wealth gap. Each year, we have the privilege of supporting hundreds of Members in reaching their employment, housing, and finance goals. Your dedication fuels our work, which is built on person-centered support, advocacy, and financial services that promote equity.

Join us as we celebrate another year of progress and look forward to a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We’re excited to share the highlights from the CEF 2024 Annual Report and reflect on the collective impact we’ve made together.

Confirm Your Attendance
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Data Talks Session 7: Equitable Storytelling With Data

By on 3/5/25 in General

Join the NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab for a 45-minute lunchtime webinar on Thursday, March 20 at 12 p.m. to learn how to present local data to encourage community involvement in housing policy and development decisions, with a special focus on underrepresented communities.

Patrick Spauster, Data Fellow at the NYU Furman Center, will provide a presentation about storytelling with data followed by a fireside chat with Allison De Marco, Advanced Research Scientist at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Development Institute and a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill‘s School of Social Work; and Donna Carrington, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment Fund.

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CEF Durham Summer Internship Application

By on 2/12/25 in About, Advocate Story, CEF Advocacy, Durham, General, Highlight, In the News, Student Research Papers

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is an organization working to combat the racial wealth gap by equipping Members of our community with the tools they may need to achieve financial independence. At the heart of our work is a commitment to supporting Members long-term in their goals.

As an intern in the Durham office, you will be working closely with Members to accomplish their goals through meetings and supporting projects relating to community resources, advocacy efforts, and recruitment of future volunteers and interns!

Our internship program application will be due on March 10th at 11:59pm. It will run from June 2nd to August 7th, with trainings beginning on May 27th.

If you have any questions, please email the Advocate Program Coordinator at shuhudm@communityempowermentfund.org.

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A Celebration of Black Queens in our Community

By on 1/28/25 in About, CEF Advocacy, CEF Advocacy Choir, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News, Newsletters, OC Hub, Savings

Join CEF in honoring six incredible Black women leaders from our communities!
February 8, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St. Parking is available across N. Greensboro St. Registration is encouraged.

This year, the annual Celebration of Black Queens will celebrate the leadership of six remarkable Black women who are CEF Members. Please join us for an evening of recognition, performances, and joy, as we highlight their amazing contributions to our communities.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees, we kindly ask that everyone wear an N95 or KN95 mask (which will be provided for those who need one).

Join Us for the Black Queens Event!

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CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble: Join the Social Justice Movement Through Song

By on 1/7/25 in About, CEF Advocacy, CEF Advocacy Choir, Chapel Hill, Durham, Events, General, Highlight, Housing, In the News

Everyone’s voices are uniting for one cause: freedom and liberation. The CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble is returning stronger than ever, ready to advocate for fixed-income, low-income, and no-income populations.

By bringing the community together to sing justice-oriented versions of popular songs, we are demanding that people in power hear the voice of the community.


Register Here to join the CEF Freedom Liberation Ensemble: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMcoH50onsP6zpGPj03Vxg4f5plWMVy84TbWQj0_9c40WQuA/viewform

Join us for the first rehearsal—open to all:

Durham: January 16th & 23rd at 6PM
Chapel Hill: January 14th & 21st at 5PM
Joint Rehearsal: February 6th at 5PM

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CEF Chapel Hill Advocate Spring Recruitment

By on 11/4/24 in General
Advocate Recruitment Spring 2025

Hey community! Chloe, our Chapel Hill Advocate Program Coordinator, wanted to let everyone know that the Advocate application for our Spring 2025 recruitment cycle will be officially opening on November 25th! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Advocate, please scan the QR code to complete the interest form and Chloe will share the application with you. You can also copy and paste this URL: https://forms.gle/opjPXvgPbkqLye2aA.

CEF is seeking volunteer Advocates who can commit to working with Members over the long haul – before, during, and well beyond their transitions out of housing insecurity. Volunteer Advocates can be anyone: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and even community members! Responsibilities include committing to weekly meetings for two or more years and utilizing anti-racism tools to advocate for Black and Brown Members in a larger context. A great Advocate is someone who is committed to lifelong learning! If you would like more information about what the role entails, feel free to contact Chloe at chloew@communityef.org. We are already looking forward to welcoming new faces this spring!!

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Understanding Financial Abuse: A Hidden Crisis

By on 10/2/24 in General
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Heal, Hold & Center

Abuse can take many forms, and while physical abuse is often recognized due to visible injuries, other types can be less apparent yet just as harmful. One of these is financial abuse, which can have a profound impact on victims. According to the National Hotline for Domestic Violence, financial abuse is rooted in the desire of one partner to have power and control over the other. 

The Overlooked Aspect: Financial Abuse

It’s crucial to recognize that intimate partner violence affects millions of people across the United States. Alarmingly, 27% of contacts with the National Domestic Violence Hotline report experiencing financial abuse in their abusive relationships. Research from the National Network to End Domestic Violence shows that financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases and is a significant component affecting nearly all victims. Many survivors stay in or return to abusive relationships due to fears about their financial stability and their ability to care for their children. Financial abuse can impact individuals across all socio-economic, educational, racial, and ethnic groups.

Financial abuse can take various forms, including:

  • Controlling Employment: Preventing a partner from working or attending school, leading to job loss or diminished career prospects.
  • Withholding Earnings: Taking the money earned from work or public assistance and refusing to give access to it.
  • Incurring Debt: Taking loans or credit in a partner’s name without their knowledge, leading to unmanageable debt.
  • Restricting Access: Controlling how money is spent and accessed, making it difficult for the victim to meet basic needs.

Resources Available

At the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF), we offer Safe Savings Accounts with a 20% match opportunity, as well as financial coaching focused on budgeting and credit repair. Our programs can provide survivors with a secure way to save money away from their abusers and help them regain financial independence.

Local Resources:

National Resources:

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CEF: Community Empowerment Fund
Chapel Hill: 919-200-0233 Durham: 919-797-9233

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