Since 2004, CAHEC has offered an Open Doors Homeownership Grant to assist nonprofit organizations who develop for-sale affordable housing within our footprint. To date, CAHEC has awarded $810,000 towards this homeownership initiative to help provide housing to families earning 80 percent or less of the area median income.

This year, the area of focus for our funding was to assist nonprofit developers in making universal design adaptations for elderly and/or special needs households. As our team of grant readers reviewed the applications, we evaluated how each organization addressed resident needs, the positive impact the work would have on the community, and the long-term results of their efforts.

We are excited to announce the recipients of CAHEC's 2023 Open Doors Homeownership Grant:

$25,000 - Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity - NC

$15,000 - Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity - VA

$10,000 - But God Ministries - MS

Each of these organizations is making important strides in providing their communities with much-needed affordable housing. To read more about each organization and learn how their efforts will change the lives of residents in their communities, please visit our website.

Each year, Affordable Housing Finance (AHF) selects a handful of standout leaders (who are recognized for their contributions to the affordable housing industry) to be inducted into their Affordable Housing Hall of Fame. This year, John Rucker, a dedicated Board member at CAHEC, was among those selected for the prestigious honor.

John, Managing Director of Stifel, is being recognized as "The Deal Closer" for making developments happen by providing critical financing, championing sound policies, and preserving the aging housing stock. In addition to his many years in the industry, John has served on CAHEC's Board of Directors since January 2022.

John is being honored at AHF Life: The Affordable Housing Developers Summit this week. Please join us in congratulating him on this wonderful achievement!

A flight to Germany from Pennsylvania would typically take close to nine hours, but for the senior residents at Academy II Apartments, it was just a short walk to the community room. Earlier this year, the property manager at Academy II, Alison Boga, worked with her supportive services coordinator to come up with a way to show her residents the world. “During covid, so many wonderful places started doing virtual tours, so we thought that would be a great way for us to bring other parts of the world to our property!”

Their most recent adventure was to explore Germany during Octoberfest, and residents – who brought empty suitcases for their “plane ride” – were excited to use their homemade passports to travel. Greeted by the flight attendants, residents boarded the plane and soon landed in Germany, where they tasted Bavarian pretzels, spaetzle, schnitzel, and the German soda, Spezi. A couple of residents, who happened to be of German descent, raved about the food and reminisced that it was how their grandmothers used to make it. 

CAHEC New Markets is seeking insight into the needs of low-income communities and persons throughout our southeast and mid-Atlantic service area. We value our affordable housing and community development partners' knowledge of their communities and ask that you take a few minutes to complete the 2023 Community Outreach Survey. 

The survey results will help us better understand the needs of the communities and residents we serve to better guide future New Markets Tax Credit investments. Respondents also have the choice to enter a drawing at the end of the survey for a chance to win a set of Apple AirPod Pros (2nd generation). The survey will close on Friday, November 17, 2023.