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Housing & Neighborhood Services Newsletter | June, 2023 |
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?Ÿ?˜?¸? City of Charlotte Announces $2.5M in Grants for Local Nonprofits Serving COVID-Impacted CommunitiesThe City of Charlotte has announced a funding opportunity for local non-profit organizations that serve communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Community Resilience Fund, a total of $2.5 million will be provided as one-time grants, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Nonprofits applying for these grants must work within the following areas of community resilience:
Non-profit organizations may submit applications for up to $250,000. |
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?Ÿ?˜?¸? The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is Now Effective: Guiding City Growth towards the Vision of Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan
As of June 1, the UDO is effective. The UDO is a document that contains the regulations that will guide the city's growth. Importantly, it aligns the city’s land development regulations with the vision for the community laid out in the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and other adopted city policies. The UDO covers the following projects and development areas:
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?Ÿ? 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. |
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?Ÿ?¤ Community Voices: Crafting the Anti-Displacement Strategy Together
The Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST) Commission conducted a community workshop on May 20. The NEST Commission was created in 2021 with the adoption of the Charlote Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The 15-member group was tasked with reviewing and recommending concrete anti-displacement strategies and tools to secure vulnerable residents and businesses against displacement. One of the purposes of the May community workshop was to gather feedback from about 40 local leaders through engaging exercises. One such activity involved forming groups, each focusing on a chosen neighborhood or community area. These groups then identified and ranked strategies best suited to address the unique displacement challenges their chosen areas face. Their feedback will inform the development of the final Anti-Displacement Framework. |
?Ÿ?¨ Beautifying Together: The Great American Cleanup at Windsor Park Elementary School
The annual Great American Cleanup event was held on May 20. On this Saturday morning, volunteers came together with Keep Charlotte Beautiful for a beautification event at Windsor Park Elementary School. As the nation's largest community improvement program, the event involved several beautification tasks such as litter removal, mulch spreading, pollinator garden planting, and mural painting. In this video, take a deeper dive and hear from Paris Harrell, community liaison at Windsor Park Elementary, and Lance Nathaniel, AmeriCorps Specialist from Keep Charlotte Beautiful, discussing the significance of the pollinator garden. They talk about how it boosts the output of the community garden while enriching the students' educational experiences. Additionally, Irlanda Ruiz, Keep Charlotte Beautiful board member, elaborates on the meaningful design of the mural and its role in the community. |
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?Ÿ?“ Celebrating Civic Success: The Civic Leadership Academy Cohort 12 Graduates
In May, Cohort 12 of the Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) held their graduation ceremony at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center. As part of the City of Charlotte's free 13-course program, CLA offers city residents an in-depth look into the workings of city government. During the ceremony, graduates shared their goals for joining the program. Their objectives ranged from wanting to be more engaged citizens to seeking tools to enhance their leadership skills. Sean Langley, president of the McCrorey Height Neighborhood Association, said, “I was trying to find more resources I could use to benefit our neighborhood and learn more about transportation, affordable housing and [how it] could really benefit our community.” He continued, “I was trying to figure out a way to resolve conflict and…address difficult questions that are posed my way. So it was all about decision making and conflict resolution.” When asked to reflect on what they learned coming out of the program, graduates said that they valued the in-the-field experiences and interactions. Elizabeth Darden, one of the graduates, remarked, “I loved so much about the CLA classes. One of my favorite things was the hands-on experiences and the field trips that we got to take. It was so cool being on the airport runway at night and watching planes land and take off; and going to the police and fire training academy and having them lift up the 200 foot ladders and show us how they fingerprint; and just getting those experiences that the average person can’t always get – and having that all be free. Amazing food, amazing people and conversation. It was very enriching.” |
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?Ÿ?¥ Exploring Community Resources: CMPD Freedom Division Resource Fair 2023 Highlights
Check out this video recap of the CMPD Freedom Division Resource Fair that took place on May 6! The event served as a fantastic opportunity to connect with various volunteer organizations and city resources all under one roof. In this video, you'll see highlights from the event along with interviews with representatives from CharMeck 311, Community Engagement, Code Enforcement, Housing Services, and others. |
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?ŸŒ? Discussing Charmeck 311's Impact at 2023 ENGAGE311
The Engage311 Conference was held from May 3-5, at the Charlotte Convention Center. This annual conference, part of CS Week, is an annual opportunity for learning and networking. It's an inclusive event, welcoming all levels of 311 municipal and customer service centers across North America. The conference provides an open environment for discussions about current issues and common interests in the industry. Raquishela Stewart, the division manager of CharMeck 311, gave a presentation about community engagement. Thank you for sharing your thought leadership with 311 groups across the country! |
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?Ÿ?¤ 311 on the Go: CharMeck 311's Collaborative Outreach with La Raza 106.1 Norsan Media
On Friday, May 12, staff members from CharMeck 311 attended a community event with La Raza 106.1 Norsan Media at Compare Foods Supermarket at 4316 North Tryon Street. This was 311's second event with La Raza 106.1 Norsan Media to continue spreading awareness about city services for Spanish-speaking residents. 311 On the Go attends events like this to build stronger connections and provide better support across the community. |
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?Ÿ?˜?¸? Code Enforcement Tip of the Month
Reminder: 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. |
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?Ÿ“° CITY-RELATED NEWS: In case you missed itAtrium Health Opens Virtual Clinic at Affordable Housing Complex Peppertree Apartments 2023 Sustain Charlotte Awards Celebrate Local Sustainability Leaders |
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