CASA has been solving homelessness for nearly three decades. In 1992, as Wake County’s area mental health programs worked with people with disabilities and mental health issues, they realized that a large number of the people they were helping were homeless. It became apparent that people could not address their health issues if they did not have housing. CASA was created to meet that need.
In 1993, CASA was able to purchase their first property for affordable housing units thanks to a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development through the McKinney-Vento Act. With those funds, CASA purchased 13 units across four properties in downtown Raleigh and welcomed their first tenants home.
Since that time, CASA has grown and expanded their properties, staff, and tenants to encompass a broader population of individuals in need of affordable housing. Their housing supports veterans, seniors, workforce housing for people earning low wages, as well as persons with disabilities. The core of CASA’s beliefs and mission has always been the same: the solution to homelessness is housing.
In August of 2019, CASA purchased six acres of land in Raleigh near Wake Medical Center as the future site of the King’s Ridge Apartments. King’s Ridge will end homelessness for single adults and families, reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness in Raleigh/Wake County by 10%.
CASA’s vision for King’s Ridge is to emulate Charlotte’s Moore Place community, and other nationally recognized supportive housing models, as a high-quality, affordable apartment community that ends homelessness. King’s Ridge will provide permanent housing for up to 100 households, serving both individuals and families. The property main floor will include community space, offices, and access to wrap around supports like case management, integrated primary and mental healthcare, employment, and childcare support. The site is well located minutes from downtown Raleigh with a public bus stop across the street.
CASA’s King’s Ridge apartments will be named in loving memory of their longtime CEO, Debra King.
Key Components for King’s Ridge will be:
- Access to permanent and affordable housing. Residents will pay one-third of their income for rent and can renew their lease year after year.
- Minimal barriers to participation. King’s Ridge will be home to single adults and families who live with disabilities, histories of homelessness, and insufficient credit to qualify for conventional housing.
- Housing First model. This model recognizes the importance of stable housing as the first step in addressing other life challenges. Once housed, residents partner with case managers to determine which supportive services they need to increase long-term success in their new homes.
- Comprehensive, accessible wraparound services. Residents at King’s Ridge will have easy access to supportive services, including case management, employment assistance, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, childcare navigation, connections to public assistance programs, and other services to prevent evictions and ensure residents understand their rights and responsibilities as renters.
- Personal voice and choice. Like a resident of a traditional apartment community, King’s Ridge residents will sign a lease, have control over their own lives and schedules, and can come and go as they please. They can direct the array and intensity of services they receive by working with a service provider to set individual goals.
To learn more about King’s Ridge, you can:
- Watch “CASA – Who We Are” Video »
- Read More About The Campaign for King’s Ridge »
- View the Case Statement (PDF) »