Recently, HUD Regional Administrator for the Southeast, José Alvarez, traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina, to celebrate the city exceeding their House America goals. Throughout the 18-month initiative, the city successfully rehoused 209 people experiencing homelessness and created 90 new units of permanent supportive housing for individuals and families that are incredibly low-income and at risk of homelessness.

House America was a federal initiative that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge led. In December 2021, as Secretary of HUD and Chair of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), Secretary Fudge invited elected officials into a national partnership to use the historic investments provided through the American Rescue Plan to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach. As a result, the Mayor of Greensboro, Nancy Vaughan, signed on to the initiative on January 5, 2022, and utilized CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, and annual HUD grant funding to exceed the city's goals.

In recognition of the city's achievements, The North Carolina Field Office organized a roundtable with Greensboro's partners to meet with the Regional Administrator. In addition, the city utilized a network of community partners to provide wrap-around services to those experiencing homelessness. Organizations like the Interactive Resource Center, Servant Center, Partners Ending Homelessness, and the Salvation Army provide direct services to move clients from unsheltered homelessness into permanent supportive housing. Using a combination of CDBG-CV, ESG-CV, HOPWA-CV, Emergency Housing Vouchers, and annual funding from HUD, the city was able to move 209 people experiencing homelessness into stable housing.

The City's Housing and Neighborhood Development department utilized HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding along with LIHTC and local housing bond funds to develop four new construction and two rehabilitation projects which will create 90 units for families that are at the 30% Area Median Income. Overall, the projects will create 495 affordable units for targeted income levels.

Following the roundtable, the celebration culminated with a Ribbon Cutting of Red Hill Pointe, a new development property from a Greensboro developer, Affordable Housing Management, Inc. The property utilized HUD HOME funding from the City of Greensboro and a 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit deal from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. Twenty-one of the 84 units are reserved for individuals and families with incomes at 30% of the Area Median income. The remaining units are intended for those that fall at 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income. Lorenzo Claxton, North Carolina Field Office Director, said, "Red Hill Pointe is an excellent example of what can be achieved through collaboration between public and private sectors." "HUD is proud to be a strong partner in North Carolina and congratulates the City of Greensboro and partners for exceeding their House America goal."

Red Hill Pointe resident James Carr said, "Being a new resident of Redhill Pointe complex, from the intake of my application to my move-in, I have nothing but praise for the staff. The apartment is just a pure delight. Being a disabled veteran and having to use a power chair for my mobility, I'm able to move around the entire apartment with ease. The bathroom is equipped with safety grab bars for added security, and the fold-down bench is like any of the best spas could offer. It's truly a Godsent. Being on a fixed income, the price is extremely affordable and with the amenity of a local market just across the street."

In total, the communities that signed on to House America rehoused 100,000 households experiencing homelessness and added over 40,000 affordable housing units into their development pipeline. While there is more work to be done, the City of Greensboro is addressing the challenges faced by its most vulnerable residents head-on, and HUD is proud to partner with them in pursuing their affordable housing goals.

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