Charlotte, North Carolina

From incarceration
to home.

Voluntary transitional housing for veterans and others facing homelessness โ€” shared housing, peer support, and a path to work. No forced treatment. A bridge, not a cage.

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Our Mission

Everyone deserves a second chance โ€” and a front door.

The Second Chance Transformational Housing Program develops voluntary transitional and transformational housing for homeless veterans and others facing homelessness. Residents build their lives around their own goals, supported by people who have walked the same road.

Who We Are

Founded by someone who's lived it.

Ed Hooper started the Second Chance Transformational Housing Program from personal experience. After his own release from incarceration in 1999, he spent 90 days under post-release supervision โ€” and learned firsthand what it means to come home with nothing and rebuild a life from zero.

He built this program so others wouldn't have to do it alone. The program's founding rule comes straight from that experience: supportive services stay voluntary, and no one is turned away simply for being under supervision. A program with that rule would have turned Ed away, too.

Today he works in Charlotte, North Carolina, developing shared housing for veterans, returning citizens, and others the system forgets โ€” housing built on dignity, not punishment.

โ€” Ed Hooper, Founder
What We Do

Three pillars, one bridge.

Housing is the foundation. Everything else is built on top of it โ€” offered with respect, never forced.

Shared Housing

Safe, stable homes shared with fellow residents โ€” a real address, a real bed, and the dignity of a place to belong while you rebuild. No one should have to get their life together while sleeping outside.

Peer Support

Guidance from people who have been through it โ€” incarceration, homelessness, starting over โ€” and come out the other side. Trust earned, not mandated. Our founder is pursuing professional peer support certification to lead this work.

Employment Services

Job placement and employment support that connects residents to real work. Housing is the foundation; work is the way forward. We meet residents where they are and build toward where they want to be.

What We Believe

Voluntary. Always.

Supportive services stay voluntary. Residents never feel they are living in a prison or a jail โ€” while we fully cooperate with any parole, probation, or governmental supervision already placed on a resident.

1

No forced treatment. Services are offered, never mandated as a condition of keeping a bed.

2

Supervision is never a barrier. On probation, parole, or post-release supervision? You're welcome here. We cooperate with any supervision already in place โ€” it never disqualifies you.

3

Fair to everyone. We do not discriminate against those on probation, parole, or other supervision. Everyone gets the same shot.

The Journey

Three steps home.

Step One

Release

Walking out with a backpack and a plan โ€” met at the gate, not left to figure it out alone.

Step Two

Residence

A shared home, a peer mentor, and space to breathe. Stability first, on your own terms.

Step Three

Rebuilding

Job placement, goals, momentum โ€” the bridge from a bed to a life. "It feels good to be home."

Who We Serve

Built for the ones the system forgets.

Questions

Asked often, answered honestly.

Do I have to be a veteran?

No. Veterans are at the heart of our mission, but our doors are open to anyone facing homelessness who is ready for a second chance โ€” including returning citizens and young adults aging out of foster care.

I'm on probation or parole. Can I still get housing?

Yes. Being under supervision never disqualifies you here. We cooperate with any parole, probation, or governmental supervision already in place โ€” our founder was under post-release supervision himself, and a program that excluded people like him would have locked him out.

Is treatment or programming required to keep my bed?

No. Supportive services are always voluntary. We offer peer support and employment help; you decide what you use. Your bed is never conditioned on forced treatment.

How do I apply, or refer someone?

Call or email us directly โ€” you'll reach a real person. Tell us the situation and we'll walk through next steps together. There is no maze of paperwork to get a conversation started.

Where are you located?

We're based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving the greater Charlotte area. Our first homes are in development now โ€” reach out and we'll tell you exactly where things stand.

Get Involved

It takes a community to build a bridge.

We're looking for partners who believe people are more than their worst day. Here's how you can stand with us.

A note on giving: we're currently organized as an LLC, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is in our future plans but not yet in place โ€” so contributions are not tax-deductible at this time.

Refer Someone

Know a veteran or returning citizen who needs housing? A direct call or email is all it takes to start the conversation.

Partner With Us

Landlords, employers, and community organizations โ€” help us open doors to housing and real work for our residents.

Volunteer & Mentor

Lived experience is our greatest credential. If you've walked this road, your guidance could change someone's life.

Get In Touch

Take the first step.

Know someone who needs housing? Want to partner with us? Reach out โ€” we answer.

Ed Hooper, Founder

Phone: (704) 280-0232

Email: [email protected]

Charlotte, North Carolina

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