Local Nonprofits Work To Secure Housing As Eviction Moratorium Looms

CHARLOTTE, NC – A former motel at the intersection of I-77 and Clanton Road will soon have at least 88 permanent residents. It’s the newest affordable housing project taken on by a Charlotte area non-profit. 

“So we’re looking for how do we step up and serve the needs of this community during this time,” said Liz Clasen Kelly, the CEO of Roof Above. 

The nonprofit just purchased the site for about $12 million dollars. The goal is to create affordable housing using the renovated space. 

“That housing will serve men and women and it will be for folks who are chronically homeless, folks who’ve been homeless a year or longer, have a disabling condition,” said Clasen Kelly. 

Clasen-Kelly says services like case workers and a nurse will be on site. The announcement came at a crucial time. 

Clasen-Kelly says there is a 23,000 unit affordable housing shortage in the city. 

“We have a long way to go in the community in terms of our work to build up affordable housing,” said Clasen-Kelly.

In September, Roof Above purchased Hill Rock Estates in East Charlotte off Kilborne Drive. The plans there call for 341 affordable housing units. 

Another Non-profit, Heal Charlotte used a similar strategy to address a need. In August, Heal Charlotte Founder Greg Jackson announced fundraising plans to purchase a motel off Interstate 85 in the Sugar Creek area.

“It’s important for us to make sure we’re giving opportunities for our people.” said Jackson. 

The projects will make a small dent in a huge problem, that many worry will only get worse. 

“Everyone talks about 2020 being a difficult year, I think we’re preparing for 2021 to be also a very difficult year,” said Clasen-Kelly.

Come the end of the year, the state and federal eviction moratoriums will expire. Hundreds of thousands of people will be at risk of losing their homes.