🏙️ City of Charlotte Adopts Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

The Charlotte City Council has approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and FY 2025 - 2029 Capital Investment Plan, starting July 1, 2024.

Key highlights include: 

Housing and Affordable Housing:

• Housing Bond: A $100 million housing bond will be on the ballot in November. This is the largest housing bond investment in the city’s history. 
• Faith and Housing Initiative: $2.5 million is allocated to support the faith community in their initiatives around affordable housing over the next year.
• $1 million is allocated for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' workforce housing Teacher Village.
• An additional $1 million supports efforts to address homelessness and housing instability.

Juvenile Crime Reduction:

• Youth Crime Reduction: $4.5 million allocated to support initiatives aimed at reducing youth crime. 

🏘️ Faith & Housing Summit 2024: 100+ Faith-Based Organizations Unite for Affordable Housing

We were inspired by the 350+ attendees who brought energy and enthusiasm about how faith communities can support affordable housing in Charlotte.

If you haven't already, please take a moment to complete our post-Summit survey. You can also let us know if you want to be added to our Charlotte Faith & Housing directory.

Check out the event photo gallery!

Submit your feedback & get added to the directory!

Presentations, photos, and plenary videos from the Summit are now live on the Faith & Housing website. More information will be available soon.

Explore the presentations!

🎥 Faith & Housing Stories: The SECU Rise on Clanton Journey: From Hotel to Affordable Housing

Explore how Roof Above converted a former hotel into SECU The Rise on Clanton, a permanent supportive housing solution in Charlotte. This video features insights from Liz Clasen-Kelly (Chief Executive Officer of Roof Above), Kaedon Grinnell (Chief Program Officer), and Marcella (a current tenant), highlighting the community's collaborative efforts to address chronic homelessness.

🎥 Faith & Housing Stories: Transforming Church Land into Sugaree Place Apartment Homes

Dive into the story of Sugaree Place, a transformative affordable housing initiative in Charlotte's Hidden Valley neighborhood, built on land donated by Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. This video features interviews with Dr. Peter M. Wherry (Senior Pastor at Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church) and Fred Dodson, Jr. (COO & EVP of DreamKey Partners), who share their journey from vision to reality.

🏠 City Council Approves Funding for Pineville Affordable Housing Rehabilitation

The Charlotte City Council has approved a $1,000,000 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) allocation to Pineville NOAH, LLC, an affiliate of Ascent Real Estate Capital, LLC, for the rehabilitation of the Ascent Pineville Apartments. This 240-unit naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) development, located at 8401 Habersham Pointe Circle, was recently acquired for $40,650,000.

The approved funding will support the preservation of affordability and provide essential supportive housing. Specifically, the project will ensure a 20-year deed restriction, with 72 units at 30% Area Median Income (AMI), 120 units at 31-60% AMI, and 48 units at 61-80% AMI. Additionally, at least 20 units will be designated for households living with HIV/AIDS.

The rehabilitation budget of $1,500,000 will cover upgrades, including roof replacement, HVAC and plumbing updates, and siding repairs.

The Ascent Pineville Apartments is ideally located near quality jobs, schools, and transportation infrastructure.

Funding for this project is part of a broader commitment, with the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners contributing $8,500,000, including a $3 million one-time loan and $5.5 million in rental subsidies over 20 years. Additionally, the LISC Charlotte Opportunity Investment Fund proposes up to a $1 million investment.
  

🏠 Unlocking Doors to Homeownership: Celebrating National Homeownership Month with City Homeownership Programs

June is National Homeownership Month! In celebration, we're highlighting various city programs available to help potential homeowners in Charlotte. 

The city's housing counseling services provide guidance on financial literacy, pre-homeownership, and foreclosure prevention.

The House Charlotte program provides financial aid up to $30,000 for eligible families for down payments, closing costs, and interest rate reductions. Homes in all Charlotte neighborhoods are eligible. The program has maximum purchase price limits.

Lastly, the Acquisition, Rehabilitate, and Resell program assists in preserving affordable housing. This program purchases, rehabilitates, and then resells homes at affordable prices to qualified homeowners in the House Charlotte program and/or those working with our nonprofit partners.

Contact Ron Mason at Ronald.Mason@charlottenc.gov to learn more.

💰 Neighborhood BOOST Grant Opportunity Available!

The BOOST grant offers neighborhood organizations located within the City of Charlotte up to $250 reimbursement for expenses associated with neighborhood community building, marketing communications and/or community events. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to yard signs & banners, diversity & inclusion efforts, and support for National Night Out and other community events.

Neighborhood groups do not have to be in the Neighborhood Matching Grant (NMG) eligible geography to apply, however they must meet (or be working towards) the organization definitions outlined in the NMG program guidelines. This grant opportunity will be open through June 24, 2024, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

For more information, click on the Community Grant Opportunities link on the homepage of the Neighborhood Matching Grant website.

🏙️ Save the Date: Register Your National Night Out 2024 Events!

National Night Out (NNO) is America’s Night Out Against Crime. This annual community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

Please Spread the Word!

• Event Registration Deadline: July 21

• Make sure local neighborhoods and organizations are aware of the deadline and how to register.

Let’s make this year's National Night Out a success!

🏘️ Save the Date: Neighborhood Board Retreat Applications Open June 24

The next Neighborhood Board Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, August 17th. The Neighborhood Board Retreat is a free, half-day event that brings neighborhood-based organizations together for collaborative discussions, interactive workshops, and strategic planning sessions. The retreat is designed to help communities evaluate their current state, identify priorities, and establish actionable goals to address community concerns.

If you would like to receive a notification when applications open, please complete the interest form.

📚 Empowering Futures: Career Readiness Workshop at Turning Point High School

The Housing & Neighborhood Services Youth Programs team recently visited Turning Point High School to give students a crash course in career readiness. The session included interview tips, an exploration of different personality types, and essential job skills. Students also participated in exercises led by the Alternatives to Violence team.

📱 City of Charlotte Launches CLT+ Espanol

The City of Charlotte launched CLT+ Espanol, a mobile-friendly single source for service requests and information. This is the Spanish version of the popular CLT+ App, offering the same features as the original version.

"The City of Charlotte is committed to fostering an inclusive community where every resident has access to the resources they need," said Saira Estrada, language access and immigrant integration coordinator. "The launch of CLT+ Espanol is a great step in making our city services more accessible by ensuring that our Spanish-speaking residents have the same opportunities to connect with and benefit from city services.”

The app is a quick and convenient alternative to calling 311. Residents can submit requests for assistance directly to the appropriate city staff. Below is a list of request examples:

•    Pay a water bill.
•    Schedule bulk waste pick-up.
•    Report a broken traffic signal.
•    Request sidewalk construction.
•    Report a lost pet.

Spanish-speaking residents can easily begin using the new app. If a resident has already downloaded the app, they will be notified that an updated version is available. If their primary language is set to Spanish, they will begin experiencing CLT+ Espanol automatically.

To download, please visit the Apple App and Google Play Stores and search CLT+. 

🍃 Celebrate Keep Charlotte Beautiful’s 50th Anniversary with Our Highlight Video!

Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) started in 1974 as the Clean City Committee. Now, celebrating its 50th anniversary, KCB continues to promote environmental stewardship and community beautification. By partnering with residents, businesses, and schools, KCB has pioneered initiatives like Adopt-a-Street, cleanups, and environmental projects, making Charlotte cleaner and more beautiful.

Watch our anniversary highlight video to see the impact of KCB's work over the past five decades and the dedication of our volunteers.

Interested in joining future cleanups? Visit Keep Charlotte Beautiful to learn more and get involved.

Happy 50th Anniversary, KCB! Here’s to many more years of keeping Charlotte beautiful.

🐝 Celebrating National Pollinator Month and Pollinator Week: June 17-23

Did you know that pollinators are more than just bees? Butterflies, bats, birds, moths, and even beetles play crucial roles in pollination, ensuring the plants they visit produce the food and medicines we need. To celebrate and protect these vital species, the City of Charlotte has declared June 17-23, as Pollinator Week, within the broader celebration of National Pollinator Month in June.

National Pollinator Week is an annual event that highlights the importance of pollinators and raises awareness about how we can support their habitats. This year, the City of Charlotte has partnered with various organizations to bring a series of fun and educational events, all of which are free to the public. Registration is required.

Join us in celebrating our pollinators! For a full list of events and to register, click here.

🏢 Code Enforcement’s Rapid Response Team’s Achievements: November 2023 – May 2024

From November 2023 to May 2024, the City of Charlotte's Quality of Life team issued 226 bike lane citations and addressed 1,396 commercial vehicle violations. These efforts are part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring safe and accessible streets and maintaining the quality of life in Charlotte's neighborhoods. Way to go, the Quality of Life team!

🏢 Code Enforcement Sign Sweep Update

On April 17, Code Enforcement conducted a citywide sign sweep, successfully removing 2,219 unauthorized signs. Thank you, Code Enforcement!

🏗️ Code Enforcement Tip of the Month

Large commercial vehicles (rollbacks, semi-trucks, etc.) are not allowed on residentially zoned property.  A violation of this ordinance could result in escalating fines up to $500/day.

📰 CITY-RELATED NEWS: In Case You Missed It

Laurel Street Celebrates Groundbreaking of Mixed-Income,  Multi-Generational Apartment Community in Charlotte
Leading multifamily residential developer Laurel Street is pleased to announce the groundbreaking for Springhouse Square, a new mixed-income, multi-generational apartment development located at 3800 Shamrock Drive in east Charlotte. Construction is underway with the first units available by spring 2025 and the project fully delivered by the end of 2025.

Charlotte leaders announce carsharing program to improve mobility
Peppertree Apartments is one of five affordable housing communities selected for an affordable mobility platform, or an EV carshare program.