CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is launching a three-phase initiative called “At Home in CMS” to get more affordable housing for educators.
The district announced on Thursday it will help teachers get into existing housing and it will build a future rental community solely for educators.
"By investing in housing for our teachers, we’re also investing in the future success of our students," Crystal Hill, superintendent of CMS, said.
First, the district is partnering with affordable housing developers like Laurel Street and Dreamkey Partners to give CMS employees at 34 high-need schools priority access to units.
Second, the program will help teachers become homeowners. One way it will do this is by connecting employees with existing down payment assistance programs.
"It also involves developing trusted partnerships with builders and developers in our area ... which have agreed to provide townhomes at cost for teachers serving in high-need schools," Nancy Brightwell, the chief of recruitment and retention at CMS, said.
Middle-school teacher Genita Nashville said the assistance will be life changing for her family.
"With more manageable housing costs, I can save for summer trips, medications for my son who has moderate asthma," Nashville said while holding back tears.
CMS is also planning to build a rental community solely for educators. It’s estimated to cost $30 million and have about 100 units.
"We as CMS won't be making those decisions in terms of who gets in and who gets put on a waitlist, but there will be an appropriate process for that," Brightwell said.
Former CMS educator Angela Browder supports the plan but wants to know how the qualifications and selection process will work.
"I don't know exactly how the teachers are gonna be picked, but all of those questions should be answered before it's rolled out," Browder said.
She said some teachers aren't happy with the plan, and would prefer to get paid higher salaries so they don't need to live in income-based housing.
Hill said the district continues to advocate for better pay, but the state legislature is in charge of deciding teacher raises.
"We have the top teacher supplement, locally that’s the only thing we can impact," Hill explained.
The district has not selected a location for the future teacher community but the goal is to break ground in 2025 and start leasing the building in 2027.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.