New Permanent Supportive Housing Solution Expands Options in Mecklenburg

Charlotte’s first adaptive reuse permanent supportive housing solution opened for occupancy recently, and thanks to a $300,000 investment by Alliance Health, six of the units are set aside for our most vulnerable members in Mecklenburg County.

SECU The Rise on Clanton is an 88-unit former hotel that has been renovated into an affordable supportive housing facility by Roof Above, a Charlotte non-profit working to end chronic homelessness. Each unit has been turned into a studio apartment with a kitchen, and the facility offers onsite access to case managers, a full-time nurse, a learning lab and community space for supportive activities.

“It is an incredibly welcoming place, and it provides a sense of community for the people living there,” said Ann Oshel, Alliance Health Senior Vice President—Community Health and Well-Being. “We really want the people we serve to experience the best in life and the best way to live, and having an intentional property like this that integrates health, housing and community support makes such a difference.”

Permanent supportive housing provides affordable housing combined with flexible, voluntary supportive services to address the needs of chronically homeless people and help them maintain stable housing and live productively in the community. Chronic homelessness is a term used to describe the situation of people who have experienced homelessness for at least a year while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability.

Tenants at SECU The Rise on Clanton will typically pay 30% of their income toward rent plus basic utilities. For most units, tenants will be selected through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Coordinated Entry process, but Alliance’s investment allows us to offer six of the units to our members experiencing chronic homelessness.

Oshel said Alliance is planning to offer community inclusion classes at the facility and exploring the possibility of onsite access to behavioral health care.

Research has shown that access to stable housing can improve health outcomes and and reduce health care costs. Alliance Health has invested more than $4,500,000 to date to secure housing inventory for people we serve in our communities. Learn more about our housing initiatives in our 2021 Annual Report.

View a slideshow of SECU The Rise on Clanton.

Watch a video of the first tenant to move into SECU The Rise on Clanton.