Our Story

The Only Way Is Up Foundation was born from love, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to serve. Founded in North Carolina, with deep family ties to West Virginia and Philadelphia, OWIU exists to uplift individuals and families facing homelessness and hardship in the communities that need support most.

Our mission is deeply personal. Inspired by loved ones who experienced homelessness firsthand, our founders understand the emotional and practical toll that instability can bring. That experience ignited a calling — not simply to help, but to stand in the gap for those who often feel unseen and unheard.

At OWIU, we believe that every person deserves safety, compassion, and the opportunity to rebuild their life with dignity. We are driven by the belief that when communities come together with empathy and action, lives can be transformed.

Our Mission
OWIU is dedicated to uplifting individuals experiencing homelessness by providing meals, clothing, and community support programs that promote hope, dignity, and progress.

Our Vision

A world where no person feels alone, unprotected, or forgotten — where communities rise together to help one another.

Our Values

Compassion — Acting with love and empathy
Dignity — Every person deserves respect
Community — We rise by lifting others
Support — Meeting people where they are
Hope — Believing in brighter futures

Why We Exist

OWIU was founded on a promise — a promise born from personal experience. Both Latisha and Darius have witnessed homelessness impact members of their own families. That reality shaped their conviction that no one should face hardship alone.

OWIU stands as a declaration:

We are here.
We see you.
We care.
And together, we will rise.

Meet The Founders

Latisha Bell - Founder & Board Chair

Founder & Board Chair

For more than a decade, Latisha has been devoted to serving families in crisis and strengthening the communities around her. As a wife, mother, and leader with strong roots in North Carolina and West Virginia, her passion for advocacy grew from watching loved ones navigate homelessness and instability.

Her family’s commitment to resilience, education, and stability — including raising a talented daughter thriving in North Carolina’s school system — reflects the very principles OWIU seeks to extend to others.

Latisha believes that every individual deserves a safe place to rest, recover, and rebuild. Her leadership centers on dignity, accountability, and sustainable community impact.

Darius Bell - Co-Founder & Treasurer

Darius brings lived understanding, strength, and steadfast dedication to OWIU’s work. Having witnessed the challenges of homelessness within his own family, his commitment to this mission is both personal and purposeful.

As Co-Founder, he supports outreach initiatives, cultivates community partnerships, fosters mentorship opportunities, and oversees hands-on operations to ensure no one feels invisible or unsupported.

Darius leads with empathy and conviction, believing that rebuilding lives requires unity, action, and love.