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housing
education
economic
opportunity
health &
wellness

We believe that health and wellbeing begin when people are safely and affordably housed and that everyone deserves a stable home. We work with local, state and federal partners to support creation of safe shelter and affordable home rental or ownership for all.

Funding Priorities
At-a-Glance

Want to know more? Find out more about Housing funding opportunities.

Take a minute to read a message from Sarah Grymes, Vice President – Housing, to find out what we are focusing on in 2024.

what we’re learning about housing

2021 Regional Housing Needs Assessment

Affordable housing needs in Western North Carolina are well-documented in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment commissioned by Dogwood and in other sources. This shortage is particularly acute for those who require permanent supportive housing and for seniors. In addition to working with partners to leverage multiple sources of expertise and funding to create new affordable housing, we are also helping groups of partners preserve and rebuild existing housing as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. 

Care and Learning (CandL) Data on Early Care and Education

Equitable, high-quality early care and education start children on a solid path to becoming lifelong learners, leading to healthier lives as engaged, fulfilled adults. However, too many WNC families cannot access affordable care, a circumstance made more challenging by a shortage of teachers and the barriers they experience entering or remaining in the field.

Dogwood Health Trust is investing in early childhood education to ensure our region has the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible care and education so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn.

In its latest commissioned study, Dogwood partnered with NC Child’s Care and Learning Initiative (CandL) to extend a statewide listening tour into 13 WNC counties and hear first-hand the concerns and needs of parents, caregivers and child care providers in those counties.

Join us for an informational webinar on September 13 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to hear a summary of those listening sessions. During the webinar, presenters will share their findings and offer a high-level analysis in addition to answering questions. Anyone is welcome to attend. Please register for the webinar.

Presenters

The CandL coalition seeks to model language justice and will offer simultaneous Spanish translation during this webinar.

how to apply

Want to discuss your ideas? Engage with us to start the process.

meet the
housing team

Sarah Grymes

Vice President – Housing
[email protected]

Kaitlynn Lovelace

Associate – Housing
[email protected]

partner outcomes

partner stories

Spindale housing

partner stories

cappadocia

partner stories

Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust

In 2014, the City of Asheville commissioned a report to study the effects of gentrification in the East Riverside area. The report revealed rapid gentrification and displacement in the city, ripple effects of historic discriminatory policies such as redlining and urban renewal.

partner stories

Baptist Children’s Homes Of Clay County

Clay County is one of 30 communities served by Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH). In partnership with Clay County DSS, the Truett Baptist Association, Dogwood and more, BCH operates two foster homes in Clay County through their Cottage Home Care program. This program provides children with holistic care and services to meet their unique needs.

partner stories

BeLoved Asheville

BeLoved Asheville seeks to cultivate a transformational way of life rooted in community, creativity and equity. They bring together Black, Indigenous, Latinx, People of Color and people of low wealth to create innovative solutions to challenging problems.

partner stories

Crossnore School & Children’s Home

Because North Carolina has approximately 10,000 kids in foster care at any given time, organizations like Crossnore School & Children’s Home fill a critical need when it comes to the health and welfare of children and their families. A 100+ year child welfare organization, working with children and families that are at risk of entering the foster care system, in the system and those aging out of the foster care system.

partner stories

Eblen Charities

Located in Asheville and serving the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Transylvania and Madison, Eblen Charities assists families and individuals in the community during times of crisis and hardship in the areas of medical, financial and emergency need. The organization serves about 12,000 clients per year. A trusted partner, Eblen has been working with government agencies to serve the community for over 30 years.

partner stories

Fostering Hopes And H3 Collective

As foster care systems across WNC grapple with difficulties related to a shortage of foster parents, organizations like Fostering Hopes and H3 Collective (H3C) serve vulnerable children and young adults in the system. The core mission of H3C is reflected in “H3,” which represents Homes, Hope and Healing for youth in need. Meanwhile, Fostering Hopes focuses on educating the community about the realities of foster care and developing foster care programs to support families and children.

housing goals & objectives

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Health & Wellness | Goal 4

Increase Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use

Objective 4.1: Reduce opioid overdose mortality throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Reduce untreated behavioral health and substance use disorder in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 4.3: Prevent and reduce behavioral health issues and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs) in youth

Health & Wellness | Goal 3

Address Health Disparities

Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors

Objective 3.1: Improve health outcomes for women and infants in rural and low-income communities and communities of color

Objective 3.2: Reduce the prevalence of common chronic health diseases in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 3.3: Increase effectiveness of health care through delivery of culturally aligned services

Health & Wellness | Goal 2

Increase Access to Whole-Person Health Care

Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services

Objective 2.1: Increase the number of people with affordable health insurance coverage

Objective 2.2: Increase the available workforce for primary and allied health care services

Objective 2.3: Increase access to comprehensive and integrated care

Objective 2.4: Increase access to community-based services in low-income, elderly and rural communities

Health & Wellness | Goal 1

Support and Build Healthy Communities

Support communities that promote healthy living and resiliency and help mitigate the impact of trauma, isolation and stress on individuals and families, especially those experiencing poverty

Objective 1.1: Decrease adverse experiences (ACEs and traumatic violence) and improve individual and family resiliency

Objective 1.2: Increase access to community environments that promote healthy living and social connectedness across the age continuum

Economic Opportunity | Goal 4

Foster Entrepreneurship

Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region

Objective 4.1: Increase the number of Person of Color (POC)-led small businesses throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Increase the number of rural small businesses throughout the region

Economic Opportunity | Goal 3

Build Economic Ecosystems

Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership

Objective 3.1: Improve access to higher-paying jobs throughout the region, targeting the lowest income populations

Objective 3.2: Increase and retain quality jobs

Objective 3.3: Stimulate economic growth, catalyzing businesses and revenue

Economic Opportunity | Goal 2

Promote Work Readiness

Help build a skilled workforce with the knowledge and technical abilities to excel in a wide range of industry employment opportunities that provide a competitive, sustainable wage

Objective 2.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Economic Opportunity | Goal 1

Develop a Comprehensive Data Resource

Source, analyze and share a comprehensive, county-by-county data set that paints a full picture of work readiness, economic development and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities specific to Western North Carolina

Education | Goal 3

Support Higher Education Career Readiness

Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels

Objective 4.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Education | Goal 2

Improve K-12 Education

Support K-12 learning experiences with the resources and sustainability to provide an excellent academic and social-emotional education, so that all students graduate ready for college or career

Objective 2.1: Address teacher workforce challenges

Objective 2.2: Equip families of students to support academic growth and social-emotional health

Objective 2.3: Increase capacity of partners to provide supports and services, particularly for children facing challenges related to poverty, systemic racism, being differently abled or English language learners

Education | Goal 1

Improve Early Childhood Education Ecosystem

Invest in an improved early childhood education ecosystem with the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible education and care to support ages birth to five, so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn

Objective: Address early childhood educator workforce challenges

Education | Goal 4

Develop a Comprehensive Landscape Study

Source, analyze and share a comprehensive set of publicly available data that provides a regularly updated, county-by-county picture of access, workforce and student outcomes in early childhood education and K-12 education specific to Western North Carolina

Housing | Goal 5

Use Impact Investments to Create Affordable and Workforce Housing

Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities

Housing | Goal 4

Create and Preserve Housing Units for Persons Below 50% of the Median Income

Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families

Objective 4.1: Create rental units for households below 50% of the median income

Objective 4.2: Help families pay no more than 30% of their income on housing

Objective 4.3: Create and preserve communities in a way that is representative of the WNC natural landscape

Housing | Goal 3

Create and Preserve Senior Housing

Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned

Objective 3.1: Create needed rental and homeownership opportunities for seniors

Objective 3.2: Incorporate supportive services in rental housing developments

Objective 3.3: Increase use of universal design in development

Housing | Goal 2

Create and Preserve Supportive Housing Rental Units

Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing

Objective 2.1: Create new supportive housing

Objective 2.2: Preserve existing supportive housing

Objective 2.3: Leverage state and federal funds

Single story home in the midst of being build with 3 volunteers helping.

Housing | Goal 1

Support Healthy and Safe Revitalization Opportunities

Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.

Objective 1.1: Revitalize Neighborhoods

Objective 1.2: Repurpose existing structures to minimize environmental impact

Objective 1.3: Support home ownership