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'Equity at the forefront' | Charlotte-area groups plan to build hundreds of affordable housing units

Mecklenburg County recently granted American Rescue Plan money to local organizations hoping to address the affordable housing crisis.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County awarded $40 million to 19 affordable housing projects and most of the grant winners are local organizations. 

"We all collaborated and said, ‘Yes grassroots organizations ought to have an opportunity to construct their own housing and not be dependent on the big corporations',” Kenny Robinson, Executive Director of Freedom Fighting Missionaries said.

Hundreds of organizations applied for county funding for their affordable housing projects. Robinson’s plan for 16 affordable townhomes is one of the 19 projects that won.  

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“I’m very proud of not only the work we’ve done but for our county and city officials who have put equity at the forefront of what we’re working toward, specifically targeting grassroots organizations to give them an opportunity,” Robinson added.  

He is getting $1.3 million to help build his organization's first-ever community called the Missionary Grove Townhomes in East Charlotte. 

There will be 16 units available to rent for low-income families. Specifically, the goal is to provide stable housing for women that are leaving The Center for Community Transitions and rebuilding their lives with their families.

Robinson said using local builders for housing projects helps prevent people from being pushed out of town. 

“It brings an end to a structure that helped to create the situation that we’re in; where big corporations come in, develop, and then the people who move here have all the opportunities while the servers, police, teachers, cannot afford to live in the city they were raised in," Robinson said. 

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Missionary Grove aims to move its first family in by April 2024.

Also, Charlotte-based developer Laurel Street is getting $6 million to build the Mount Moriah Senior Apartments in Matthews. 

Senior VP of Development Lee Cochran told WCNC Charlotte that there's a dire need for affordable housing, especially for the elderly.

"In addition to having a tremendous population boom in Charlotte of folks moving here, we’re also having just a general aging population across the country," Cochran explained. "So, the need for affordable senior housing is growing very quickly.” 

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Cochran added that the grant gives them a unique opportunity to build outside of Charlotte and make the town of Matthews more affordable for some people.  

"That's where we don't see as much affordable housing done -- in the towns of Mecklenburg County,” Cochran said.

Mount Moriah aims to start building in 2024.   

Here is a list of the remaining grant recipients and their projects:

Crossroads Corporation for Affordable Housing & Community Development was awarded $145,000 to provide down payment mortgage assistance to homebuyers in the Grier Heights Community.

The Town of Davidson was awarded $1 million to help families in need of home repairs and offer rental subsidies for residents spending over 30% of their income on housing. 

Dominium was awarded $5 million to build 150 affordable units of workforce housing for a community called Creekridge on the Park.

Dreamkey Partners was awarded $2.8 million to build 140 affordable senior living units near Johnston Oehler Road. The developer also received $2.5 million "for a housing project that will offer 21 units of permanent supportive affordable, including supportive services," according to the county.

Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region was awarded $1.7 million to build 29 single-family homes near Brookshire Boulevard for affordable homeownership.

The National Housing Partnership Foundation was awarded $1.1 million to renovate LaSalle at Lincoln Heights, a senior living facility off Beatties Ford Road.

Urban Trends was awarded $1.6 million to build 36 affordable apartment units in the Lakeview neighborhood. 

West Side Community Land Trust was awarded $650,000 to build 120 affordable senior living units in the West Boulevard Corridor.

Community Support Services of Mecklenburg County was awarded $612,000, "to expand the Coordinated Entry Program, which provides housing resources to homeless domestic violence victims," according to the county. 

Mecklenburg County's criminal justice services was awarded $1.5 million to, "to expand the vendor housing program for justice involved youth by 10 additional homes," according to the county.

The Latin American Coalition was awarded $2 million to increase its capacity and expand its resources to help accommodate the rising immigrant population.

The Mecklenburg County Manager's Office was awarded $6 million to acquire and preserve 53 single-family homes in the west corridor. 

The Matthews Help Center was awarded $350,000 to provide rental assistance.

The Salvation Army was awarded $3.2 million to expand its Center of Hope Shelter.

Pineville Neighbors Place was awarded $300,000 to offer rental assistance. 

Roof Above was awarded $710,000 to expand its Day Services Center, which helps people that are homeless.

Lastly, Veterans Bridge Home was awarded $1 million, "to establish a dedicated housing team to directly address housing needs for veterans and their families. The team will provide housing, employment & health access navigation and support to put 800 veterans and their families on the path of stability," according to the county.

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Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

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