A picture is worth a thousand words…

If you read our last blog post, you learned about why the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund is necessary for providing affordable homes in our state. In short, the Housing Trust Fund helps rehabilitate and preserve the existing housing stock in North Carolina and also creates new affordable housing. However, as you know, the Trust Fund receives inadequate funding, and the focus of the Campaign for Housing Carolina is to secure a dedicated revenue source for the NC Housing Trust Fund.

We wanted to let everyone know about our recent undertaking, the Postcard Project, which showcases how the NC Housing Trust Fund has given individuals and families a place they can call their own. We created the Postcard Project because we want lawmakers to witness the past successes of the Trust Fund, and the project is an effort to show lawmakers the faces of residents whose lives have been changed from housing provided by the Trust Fund.

Here’s the lowdown on how the Postcard Project works: At the housing developments, we host a get-together for the residents. At the get-together, we take pictures of families and individuals living in the housing and put them on the postcards to send to legislators. Each person signs a postcard for every legislator in their county and for the chairs of key committees. Then, we let the residents tell their stories by writing personal messages on the cards. So far, the NC Housing Coalition has traveled across the state to the housing developments of Brookridge, Maplewood Square, Hunters Hill, and Nia Point and to construction agencies that build affordable housing, such as Weaver Cooke and Village Crossing. To date, we have mailed approximately 1,007 postcards to 59 legislators representing 14 counties with many more to come.

Also at the get-togethers, we provide snacks, drinks, and activities for the children. In addition to being an opportunity for the residents to learn more about how to ensure that more affordable housing is built, the event serves as a way to build community. It is so touching to witness the smiling faces of residents and their appreciation for their homes, and although we cannot disclose pictures of the residents, we wanted to share a couple of photos of the housing developments from our past visits.

The photo above is from the opening of Brookridge in Raleigh, NC. (Developer: DHIC)

Above: Maplewood Square in Durham, NC, is a housing development for seniors. (Developer: DHIC)

Above: Nia Point in Charlotte, NC, is a housing development for families. (Developer: Crosland)

Above: Weaver Cooke in Greensboro, NC, is a construction agency. (Developer: Weaver Cooke)

This week, the Postcard Project will take us to Lillington, North Carolina, to visit Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor, two housing developments for families and seniors, respectively. Thanks to Mills Construction, the developer, and United Property Management for helping organize the event. Stay tuned for an update!