A long-awaited program that will serve eligible Community Housing Coalition clients in Madison County whose homes are beyond repair, will break ground on its first replacement home before year-end.
MARSHALL, N.C., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County is poised to bring to reality a new Affordable Replacement Housing Program designed to provide affordable replacement houses for qualifying CHC clients whose homes are beyond repair.
"With as many as 25% of county residents living in substandard housing with repair needs that threaten their safety or health, this program is another tool in our toolbox to help solve the housing crisis locally," explains Chris Watson, program director at CHC. "It will help keep our neighbors from being displaced due to dilapidated or beyond-repair housing, providing a new, long-lasting place to live – that is affordable."
A pilot phase for the Affordable Replacement Housing Program was completed at the end of 2020, replacing a Mars Hill resident's home on her existing property. Since then, CHC has continued to explore affordable housing options suitable for rural mountain communities, and is poised to break ground on the first home before December 2022. Four houses should be completed through this program by the end of 2024, with plans to expand that number in the works.
"We are excited to be able to extend CHC client services with a program that takes a meaningful step forward in the creation of affordable housing in the county", says Matthew Bennett, construction manager for the program. "Also, by leveraging local building suppliers and partnerships with funders, our volunteers, local vocational programs, and the homeowners themselves, this program reinforces our commitment to providing opportunities for community engagement."
This Affordable Housing Replacement Program is partially funded by HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program through the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium. Additionally, generous grants from Dogwood Health Trust and WNC Bridge are supporting direct construction costs and capacity to develop and administer the program.
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About Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County, NC
The mission of CHC is to promote and facilitate healthy, safe and affordable housing through advocacy, education, and resource development. It facilitates urgent home repairs for low-income Madison County residents by leveraging grant funding, thousands of volunteers, and public contributions to support and empower them to remain in their homes. CHC serves over 150 neighbors annually with needs assessments, accessibility improvements, roofs, flooring, well/septic systems, and other major repairs that impact their health and safety.
To learn more about how CHC works to help solve the Madison County housing crisis, visit chcmadisoncountync.org or call 828.649.1200.
CHC of Madison County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN #11-3660564
Media Contact
Cathy Dalton, Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County, 828.649.1200, [email protected]
SOURCE Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County
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