© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Caldwell Hired To Oversee Charlotte's Private-Sector Affordable Housing Effort

Ralphine Caldwell

A longtime Charlotte housing expert has been named to lead private-sector efforts to spur development of affordable housing in the city. Ralphine Caldwell will start work in March as executive director of a new Charlotte office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, or LISC.

LISC is a New York-based nonprofit community development financial institution hired by the city and private groups to help finance and manage the affordable housing effort. LISC currently operates in 32 other cities nationwide.  

Caldwell currently is a senior vice president at the nonprofit Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, where she has worked since 2004.  Her job will include overseeing the Charlotte Housing Opportunity Fund, a new $75 million fund being raised from companies, churches and other private groups.

LISC has pledged to raise $25 million nationally for the new private-sector fund.  The Foundation for the Carolinas, Wells Fargo and other businesses have pledged to raise another $50 million. That money will be used along with $50 million in city Housing Trust Fund bonds approved by voters in November to help finance new affordable housing in Charlotte over the next few years.  

Caldwell said LISC's role in Charlotte will be about more than new housing. The organization also works with communities to improve economic opportunity.

“Right now, many of our communities are facing a significant opportunity gap,” Caldwell said in a press release. “But those challenges don’t tell the whole story. They don’t speak to the rich culture in our communities or the vibrant energy that runs through our city. LISC will be investing in ways that tap into that strength so we can raise local incomes and improve the overall quality of life for thousands of residents.”

When Caldwell starts the new job in March, her first task will be to hire local staff and help set up several community boards to help guide planning for new affordable housing. LISC said it's Charlotte office will be at 201 S. Tryon St. in uptown.

Affordable housing will be on the agenda at Monday night's Charlotte City Council meeting. The council will get an update on the work of LISC and other private sector partners. Council members also are expected to vote on whether to approve the new Affordable Housing Locational Guidelines to replace the old Housing Locational Policy.

The old policy tried to restrict where affordable housing could be built, to avoid concentrations of housing in certain neighborhoods. The new guidelines establish a ranking for proposed developments according to several criteria, such as proximity to public transportation, jobs and schools.

The changes were recommended by the council's housing committee and would end the council's frequent waivers for affordable housing in areas deemed off-limits under the old policy.

David Boraks previously covered climate change and the environment for WFAE. See more at www.wfae.org/climate-news. He also has covered housing and homelessness, energy and the environment, transportation and business.