CASA broke ground on King’s Ridge!
We are so pleased to announce that on March 29th 2022 at 10:00 AM, we broke ground on King’s Ridge. This momentous occasion was an emotional celebration of two years of hard work with volunteers, elected officials and compassionate community members. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone in the community’s construction.
Several years ago, CASA was approached by a group of Raleigh women searching for a way to develop housing similar to Charlotte’s Moore Place. Over years of volunteering with women living on the streets, they believed that Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)– housing with wrap around supports including healthcare, behavioral health support, child care, and more– would work for their friends. After a year or so of discussions, the perfect opportunity presented itself. CASA purchased 6 acres of undeveloped land on Michael J. Smith Lane in Raleigh and King’s Ridge was born. Over the next two years, CASA and our dedicated volunteer Campaign Committee, led by Chair Molly Painter, engaged individuals, corporations, faith communities, the City, the County, and a Federal Appropriation to garner support for King’s Ridge. To date, the campaign has raised over $20M.
King’s Ridge Champaign Chair Molly Painter said, “I hope that King’s Ridge provides hope for people who are homeless today, that we see them and know them and recognize the challenges they face every day. We hope that King’s Ridge will serve as a model for more permanent, supportive housing to come.”
At Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, over 100 community leaders, elected officials, volunteers, and major project donors gathered to celebrate. Speakers included Sharonda Arnold Ocean, Vice Chair of CASA’s Board of Directors and King’s Ridge Campaign Committee volunteer, Nicole Stewart, Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh, Shinica Thomas, Vice Chair of the Wake County Commissioners, Virginia Parker, Triangle Market Executive from Bank of America, Everett McElveen, CASA CEO, and Molly Painter, Chair of the King’s Ridge Capital Campaign Committee.
The speeches celebrated the hard work and perseverance that our staff and volunteers had put into this project, discussed the huge impact the community will have on the lives of those who will one day move in, and reflected on the late Debra King, whom the building is named after. Debra King was CASA’s CEO for 23 years, and sadly passed away in 2018 after a battle with cancer. We were so proud to have her family in attendance at the groundbreaking.
CASA staff member Kathleen DeRubio shared, “I think about Debra every day. I have a very strong sense that she would be happy with our new leadership and all the ways we’re living our mission to end homelessness by providing more housing. Often, I wonder about how Debra would feel about this or that effort we’re undertaking at CASA. What would she think? Would she have done something differently? More and more I sense that this is how she wanted CASA to grow. These are efforts she would have supported. These are next steps she would have taken with us. And that makes me happy. That makes me smile. That makes me feel that Debra’s spirit is still with us.”
Many speakers referenced Debra in their remarks. Nicole Stewart, Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh, ended her speech by saying, “To the CASA staff who are here today, I know you are making her so proud.”
Following the speeches, attendees walked over to the future site of King’s Ridge to hear a short blessing from Rev. Greg Jones of St. Michaels Episcopal Church and to break ground. Groundbreaking attendees were invited to take a flowerpot, some soil from the site, and a small packet of seeds to grow.
At CASA, we are so excited to have reached this incredible milestone in the building’s construction. We know that soon, we’ll be able to end homelessness for 100 individuals and families, to provide them with a safe, secure place to live, and to help them access the supports they need to thrive. The causes of homelessness are complex, but the solution is simple: housing.
To learn more about King’s Ridge or to make a donation, please visit casanc.org/kingsridge.
