CPA Supervisor Phil Brickle (left) trains crew member on proper use of the riding mower

CPA was created by CASA in 2004 to provide employment opportunities for tenants who needed special accommodations like shorter work hours, and understanding from their supervisor.  “They need a lot of love, patience and compassion,” says Phil Brickle, CPA Supervisor and leader of the program since its inception. “They have doctor’s appointments, they need to take medication.  Some employers wouldn’t have the resources to support the complicated conditions our staff are coming in with.  But for me, it’s been a joy.”

CPA was born out of work that Phil was already doing with people staying at Raleigh’s largest homeless shelter, the South Wilmington Street Center.  One CPA crew member, Darryl*, had been at the shelter for over a year when he joined the crew.  Soft-spoken but with an infectious smile, Darryl quickly became a dependable employee and a familiar presence in CASA’s office.  When CASA completed its Hope Crest community in 2008, the first community in North Carolina built specifically for persons who are chronically homeless, Darryl was able and ready to move right in.  The support he received and the confidence Darryl gained by working for CPA have helped him to achieve successful independent living.  Ron* was hired by CPA after he moved into his own CASA apartment.  Ron had been living in a group home for people with mental illness, but Ron’s dream was to have a place all his own, and to be less dependent on other people to meet his needs.  Ron’s transition to a one-bedroom CASA apartment in Knightdale was the first step towards achieving that dream.  CPA has been another step.  Ron has learned new skills, he’s part of a team that he trusts, and he is earning money and making decisions for himself.

Community Property Alternatives working on landscaping

Ron and Darryl are two of 24 men and women who have found meaningful employment with CPA since 2004.  The current crew of 8 members work 5 days a week, with shortened shifts of 3.5 hours each day.  Two-thirds of CPA revenues come from maintenance for CASA properties; several outside contracts supply the remaining third.  If you or your business would like to work with CPA, contact Phil Brickle for a free estimate.

*Names have been changed

The need is not just for more units for persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless, but for rental assistance for these tenants as well.  In order to earn enough money to afford the fair market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Wake County, a person would need to earn an hourly wage of $13.75 – far more than someone earns at minimum wage and even further out of reach for someone living on a disability payment of just $674 per month.  We ask the county to allocate dollars for rental assistance for people with very low incomes and with disabilities.  Rental assistance, often in the form of rental vouchers, can make or break the financial health of a development.

We at CASA ask that the county’s Consolidated Plan continue to address the need for affordable rental housing that is developed for households at 50% or below the area median income.  The County should target its dollars at the lowest segment of the population as the market often provides for those at fifty percent and above.  We agree with the City of Raleigh Affordable housing task force that “the greatest need for public sector support is for very low-income households.”

This allocation of resources is in the spirit of HOME and CDBG dollars.  These dollars are awarded to a community based on the number of people living in poverty in that area.  Therefore, it is fitting that these dollars be dedicated to housing this population.

Furthermore, we urge the County to continue to provide funding for the creation of more supportive housing for persons with disabilities and histories of homelessness.  Supportive housing, which costs around $30 per day, has proven to be a far more financially sustainable solution to housing people with complex problems than frequent stays in publicly-supported institutions like hospitals, jails, and shelters.

Congressman David Price speaks at Pritchard Avenue Apartments Open House

For CASA, the non-profit housing development agency hosting the dedication, Sandy was exactly the type of person they strive to serve.  Since 1992, CASA has been an organization that believes in second chances, and has been putting these beliefs into action in Wake, Durham, and, most recently, Orange counties.

CASA’s mission is to provide quality affordable housing and opportunities for successful living to persons of low-wealth and to those with disabilities.  For tenants like Sandy whose meager disability income of $664 per month does not even equal Chapel Hill’s fair market rent, a CASA apartment can mean the difference between successful living and homelessness.  Sandy’s arrest record, though over ten years old and directly linked to her then-untreated mental illness, is another stumbling block that would disqualify her from many conventional rental properties.

CASA, or Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes, has a simple formula for creating and maintaining affordable rental housing.  The agency seeks construction and rehabilitation funding for a new project through federal, state, and local government channels.  CASA then uses tenant rent and rental subsidies to cover project expenses, relying on government contracts and private donations to fill funding gaps.  Most CASA tenants pay just 30% of their income towards rent, with a typical tenant paying around $150 per month.  CASA’s 14 full-time and 8 part-time employees develop, manage, and maintain over 260 housing units throughout the Triangle.

Representative Verla Insko inspects a newly renovated kitchen at Pritchard Avenue Apartments

In Orange County, CASA has 30 properties scattered throughout Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Twenty were purchased from the Chrysalis Foundation for Mental Health when that agency had to close its doors in 2009.  CASA celebrated the opening of 10 more units in October.  The Pritchard Avenue Apartments consist of one-bedroom units specifically designed for and targeted to persons with disabilities or persons with a history of homelessness.

Chapel Hill community members celebrate the dedication of Pritchard Avenue Apartments

In Orange County, CASA tenants are connected to a variety of service providers, including Cross Disabilities Services (XDS), Freedom House, the UNC Step Program, Lutheran Family Services, and OPC.  These agencies help tenants with basic life skills, counseling, and case management.  CASA’s model of pairing stable, safe, permanent housing with supportive services often dramatically improves tenant outcomes in terms of decreased frequency or elimination of hospitalizations, arrests, mental health crises, and days of homelessness.  These improved outcomes also benefit communities, who save money by avoiding the costs, financial and other, of incarceration, homeless shelter stays, and crisis interventions.

CASA’s rental housing is permanent – the average length of tenant stay is over 3 years, and many current tenants have been in their apartments for 10 years or more.  Permanent housing allows tenants to engage with their neighbors, find employment with local businesses, and truly become a part of their community.  For many CASA tenants, who have lived for much of their lives feeling isolated and different, being part of a community where they are treated just like everyone else is life-changing.  CASA is proud to be a partner in making this possible.

Rosemary first came to CASA in 1998 when her chronic lung disease made it hard for her to keep a steady job. This, in turn, made it difficult for her to find an affordable apartment. After a long wait, Rosemary obtained a housing voucher, and, working with a Wake County social worker, applied for an apartment with CASA. She eventually moved into her own one-bedroom apartment in downtown Raleigh, just steps from CASA’s office in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood. Like the majority of CASA tenants, Rosemary paid just 30% of her income for rent each month.

With the constant worry about her housing circumstances finally resolved, the 48-year-old mother of two thrived. Rosemary’s health improved, her ability to work returned, and her meager savings increased. An energetic and loving person, Rosemary was a great neighbor and friend who loved raising house plants and was active in her church. She even volunteered as a CASA board member, sharing her personal experience and insights with CASA’s decision-makers.

After 4 years, Rosemary’s life was back on track, and she felt strong enough, financially and physically, to return her housing voucher to Wake County so that someone else in need could use it. Before she moved into her new apartment, CASA staff made sure to let Rosemary know that if she ever needed our help again, we would be there for her.

Five years later, CASA found out that Rosemary’s health had deteriorated again. She had been living in her own place and had a full-time administrative job, but her disabling lung condition was taking its toll on her body, making it hard for her to continue working and to pay her rent. CASA had just completed a new apartment community for individuals with disabilities, and Rosemary was grateful and excited to become a part of it.

Rosemary lived in her new apartment for two years. Her joyful spirit made her a favorite in the neighborhood, and her balcony, overflowing with beautiful plants, seemed to reflect her hopeful, happy attitude. Rosemary’s next-door neighbor shared the same first name, and the two women developed a very close friendship.

A few months ago, Rosemary’s health condition became grave and she was hospitalized. Within a week, she passed away. Two CASA staff members were able to visit her in the hospital during that last week, and even then she expressed her gratitude to CASA for keeping her apartment safe and secure while she was sick.

For those of us who have not faced homelessness, the importance of a safe, comfortable home is sometimes taken for granted. Tenants like Rosemary remind us how crucial this basic human need really is. All of us at CASA share Rosemary’s gratitude with you, our friends and supporters. Through your help, Rosemary was able to live with dignity and grace, and to inspire those around her with her courage and spirit.