Central United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia, currently in the construction phase, would replace the existing church building with an eight-story structure housing 144 apartments, a new sanctuary and office space, a community kitchen for onsite food distribution, a meeting hall and an early childhood education space.
Almost 10 years in planning, Acts Cyrene Apartments brings renewed vitality and almost $30 million in redevelopment funds to International Boulevard in East Oakland. A public-private partnership with Acts Full Gospel Church, the City of Oakland, and the Oakland Housing Authority, Acts Cyrene Apartments is a 59-unit affordable, mixed-use family apartment with an onsite community center complete with computer room, tot lot, and a social services office that provides job readiness training. Fourteen units are designated Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. There is 3,500 square feet of retail space fronting International Boulevard between 94th & 96th Streets.
The Spire offers 113 affordable apartments in the City of Alexandria, welcoming new families since March 2021. Developed in partnership with the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, the community is ideally located near public transit, Northern Virginia Community College, and major commercial hubs.
In the affluent Elizabeth neighborhood, Caldwell Presbyterian is in the process of converting its century-old education building into a 21-unit supportive housing community for those earning 30% to 50% of the city’s median income.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, land adjacent to Mayfield Memorial Baptist, once occupied by gangs and drug houses, is now full of construction crews as the church erects a village of mixed-income, affordable apartments.
The Affordable Housing Initiative at Fairfax Presbyterian Church seeks to continue the enduring mission-focused tradition of the church. Through a partnership with three other mission-focused organizations with affordable housing expertise (Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia, Homestretch, and HomeAid), the church seeks to lease a portion of the northeast corner of the church’s property to provide affordable land for eight family-owned homes and two transitional homes.
At the foot of Mount Diablo in Walnut Creek, California, the campus of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church houses 44 units of supportive housing where unsheltered neighbors with disabilities and other challenges are provided with shelter.
To help solve the affordable housing crisis in Metro Denver, the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado sought the help of churches through a congregation land campaign. The alliance’s pitch: In the Metro area there are 5,000 acres of unused land owned by faith communities that could be leveraged for housing. When Mountain View United Church in Aurora heard about the land campaign, it decided, in its lead pastor’s words, “to run with it.”
On the north side of Chicago, the Rev. Shawna Bowman, pastor of Friendship Presbyterian Church, has created partnerships to serve the community through food, affordable housing, collaboration, and a safe space for living out a dedication to being an affirming and supportive space that welcomes and serves all people.