Charlotte officials look to faith leaders to help with affordable housing crisis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The City of Charlotte is looking to partner with faith leaders to create a solution to the affordable housing crisis.

Officials are hosting a webinar Tuesday to share information with churches that may be interested in developing housing on their land. One church already has a project already underway.

Church leaders at Caldwell Presbyterian are nearly done turning a former Sunday school building into 21 affordable studio apartments for people trying to get back on their feet. It’s called Easter’s Home.

“It certainly is a leap of faith,” said Rev. John Cleghorn. “A congregation has to have faith that this is all going to work out.”

Cleghorn is practicing what he preaches.

“Housing our neighbor, loving our neighbor is core to our faith,” he said.

He and his church are undertaking a $6 million project — a decade in the making. They’re creating nearly two dozen affordable housing units for people who make 30 to 50 percent of Charlotte’s median income.

“They just need stability,” said Cleghorn. “They need a place they can count on rather than a park bench or sleeping on somebody’s sofa or in a shelter.”

Cleghorn gave Queen City News a tour of the 14,000 square foot building. The units are outfitted with modern appliances but preserve some of the church’s history.

“It’s a great use for an old building that was built for a different time in church life, and now we have a new purpose for it,” he said.

Charlotte officials hope other faith leaders will have the same calling. At least 34,000 additional units are needed citywide.

“We’re never going to get this done alone,” said Warren Wooten, Charlotte’s assistant director of affordable housing. “But together we really can create a community that has housing available for everyone.”

They’re looking to work with eight to 10 churches to guide them through the development process.

“Churches across the city and really across the nation are going to find that they have space, land, and buildings to share, and this is a wonderful use to do that,” said Cleghorn.

Cleghorn said a project like this is not for the faint of heart, but he knows someone will be up to the challenge.

“What churches do have is a love of neighbor,” he said. “They have the mission focus that it takes to work through the long term, jump through all the hurdles that are going to come, and keep at it.”

Church leaders hope to start welcoming residents to Easter’s Home this fall. The nonprofit Roof Above will take over operations and work to place people in units.