BREAKING NEWS: LaMelo Ball Invests $3.6 Million to Transform Mansion into Shelter for Homeless Youth in Charlotte, North Carolina After Eye-Opening Encounter with Local Teen
Charlotte, NC — June 18, 2025
In a powerful and deeply personal gesture that transcends sports, Charlotte Hornets star point guard LaMelo Ball has announced a stunning $3.6 million investment to convert one of his private residential properties into a fully functional shelter for homeless and at-risk youth in Charlotte, North Carolina. This development has sparked widespread admiration across the basketball world and the local community alike.
The decision, according to Ball, stemmed from a recent encounter with a 16-year-old boy living on the streets near Uptown Charlotte. The boy, a basketball fan and former high school athlete, had been displaced from his home due to family abuse and economic hardship. Ball reportedly spent over an hour speaking with the teen, offering him food and conversation before organizing emergency housing for him through a local nonprofit.
“It broke me,” LaMelo said in a press conference on Tuesday. “You look at a kid like that — talented, full of life, polite — and you realize he’s sleeping on benches and dodging trouble every night just to stay alive. That’s when it hit me. I could be doing more than just giving out shoes or posting motivational tweets. I needed to step up.”
A Bold and Compassionate Vision
Ball’s project, officially named “The LaMelo Safe Haven Initiative”, will see one of his 8-bedroom, 11-bathroom properties in South Charlotte undergo a complete transformation over the next five months. The home, which spans over 19,000 square feet, was originally purchased by the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was used as a private retreat and entertainment space. However, that personal luxury is now becoming a beacon of hope for many.
Partnering with local nonprofits including The Relatives and Urban Ministry Center, Ball’s revamped facility will offer:
Temporary housing for up to 25 homeless youth
On-site counselors and mental health specialists
Classrooms for GED and college-prep tutoring
Job training workshops
Sports and recreational programs
24/7 security and support staff
Architectural plans include redesigned living quarters, therapy rooms, a multi-use indoor gym, and even a “Creative Expression Studio” where youth can create music, art, or podcasts — a feature Ball personally insisted on.
“This isn’t just a roof,” Ball said. “It’s a second chance.
