Grant to develop housing opportunities for youth transitioning from foster care
Greenville's housing authority has received more than $2 million in grant funds to build an affordable housing development for youth exiting the foster care system, the agency announced this week.
The Housing Authority of the City of Greenville (HACG) said it will use funds totaling $2,085,540 for the construction of "ARISE," which will consist of 20 apartments for youth and young adults between the ages of 18-24 who are transitioning out of foster care and have no place to go.
This first-of-its-kind initiative also will provide life skills training, counseling, educational opportunities, and case management, all at one location.
Due to the shortage of available, affordable housing and the lack of needed support networks, many vulnerable youth who qualify for assistance may not find accommodations and/or achieve independent living and consequently could be at risk of becoming homeless, the announcement from the housing authority said.
ARISE will help fill the gap by developing affordable units specifically for this population to address youth homelessness in Pitt and surrounding counties, the announcement said.
It is one of nine projects in the 1st Congressional District of North Carolina to receive the federal money through Community Project Funding championed by U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield for underserved communities in eastern North Carolina, the announcement said.
Butterfield will make the formal announcement on at 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the future site of the apartment complex, 2818 Best Road, located off of Bs Barbecue Road.
HACG previously received funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Foster Youth to Independence initiative, which provides housing choice vouchers for youth under the age of 25 with a history of child welfare involvement.
The agency is working in coordination with Pitt County DSS to offer assistance to eligible youth, the announcement said.
Article originally published by Reflector on September 30, 2022