Charlotte Offers Faith Communities $30,000 Grants to Build Affordable Housing
The City of Charlotte launched a program called Faith in Housing, offering $30,000 grants to faith-based organizations willing to convert unused land into affordable rental units. Twelve churches with more than 88 acres of land are already enrolled. The city faces a shortage of more than 42,000 affordable rental units.
The City of Charlotte is offering $30,000 grants to faith-based organizations that want to turn unused church land into affordable housing. The program, called Faith in Housing, launched May 1 and is already drawing interest from congregations across the city.
Twelve faith-based organizations with a combined 88 acres of land have enrolled in the first cohort. Each will receive training on how to develop affordable rental units on their properties, along with access to technical assistance grants.
Charlotte faces a shortage of more than 42,000 affordable rental units for residents earning less than 50 percent of the area median income. City officials say churches, which often own large parcels in established neighborhoods, are well-positioned to help close that gap.
The Grove Presbyterian Church in east Charlotte is one of the first participants. Working with nonprofit developer Kinship Plot, the church plans to build 24 affordable rental units on open space it currently owns.
"We''ve had this land for decades," said a church representative. "This program gave us a path to actually use it for the community."
The grants cover feasibility studies, which help congregations determine whether their land is suitable for development and what type of housing would work best. Applications for technical assistance grants closed May 4, though city officials said an extension was possible for interested organizations.
Faith-based groups that complete the feasibility phase can apply for additional support to move into the design and construction stages. The city is partnering with several nonprofit developers to provide ongoing guidance.
Housing advocates say the program is one of the more creative approaches to the city''s affordability crisis. By working with institutions that already own land and have deep roots in their neighborhoods, Charlotte avoids some of the typical barriers to affordable development, including land acquisition costs.
