NEWS

Davidson Housing Coalition (DHC) was awarded $7,500 by Publix Charities in support of its Bungalows Preservation project, which will help them keep 32 rental units in Davidson, NC affordable for another generation of service.

Constructed in 2000, The Bungalows neighborhood is currently home to households whose average incomes fall below 30% of area median income, or the threshold defined by the federal government  as very low income. The community is positioned to serve residents with incomes up to 50% of area median income. As DHC’s residents age in place and wages and pensions continue to lose ground relative to the cost of living, The Bungalows remains one of the very few affordable rental options in affluent north Mecklenburg County for people at the lowest end of the earning spectrum.

As DHC looks toward another 25 years of service for The Bungalows, the units and buildings are ready for a much-needed refresh, including HVAC units and water heaters, as well as new, more efficient appliances and easier-to-maintain, updated flooring. This Publix Charities grant will be combined with other recent generous contributions and grants to help cover the costs of these improvements.

“We are so grateful to Publix Charities for their generous support,” said DHC executive director Connie Wessner. “We are excited that our planned upfits will not only serve the long-term needs of the property, but also residents’ pocketbooks by driving down utility bills.”

“This Publix Charities grant will help DHC sustain 32 affordable rental homes, the 9 single-family style buildings that house them, and the strong sense of place, community, and neighborliness they’ve fostered for all of Davidson’s 15,000 residents,” said DHC board chair Libby Cable. “Every dollar we bring to the project from grantors helps buy down the debt we must carry to update The Bungalows and keep them affordable for the long term.”

Demand for affordable housing remains high locally, regionally, and nationally. DHC’s lengthy waiting lists speak to the scope of unmet need. With the cost of land and new builds skyrocketing, DHC is also determined to do more with what they already have. The neighborhoods DHC builds and supports embrace the architectural design, quality of life factors, and sense of community that draws people to Davidson, a small college town.

Bungalows History

When the first Bungalows residents arrived in 2001, the development garnered national attention for its innovative, neighborhood-based design, which offered a safe, attractive alternative to the high-occupancy, cookie-cutter buildings so often characteristic of affordable housing. Fannie Mae Foundation awarded The Bungalows a Maxwell Award of Excellence in 2002, celebrating the community’s positive impact on the affordable housing landscape in Davidson and its potential for shaping similar efforts in other communities.

While private developers of affordable housing generally convert their units to market rate rents after 10 to 15 years, DHC, a nonprofit representing our community's broader interests, is reinvesting to maintain long- term affordability at The Bungalows. We are determined to keep it the powerful and stabilizing anchor it has become in the Davidson neighborhood, which now hosts a dynamic mix of owner-occupied homes, market-rate rentals, luxury townhomes, and commercial and retail space.

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Davidson Housing Coalition is a North Carolina, 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation with a mission to preserve and create affordable housing options and to prepare families and individuals for financial stability and home ownership. Founded in 1997, DHC has created 60 affordable rental units and 14 land-lease home ownership opportunities for people who earn less than 80% of area median income. Our mission as a citizen-founded, citizen-led nonprofit reflects a shared civic commitment to keep our doors open to the myriad of talents, experiences, and perspectives that people in all walks of life have to offer. The DHC Board draws its membership from across the community and includes residents of our rental communities, as well as current and former owners of DHC land-lease homes.

Publix Super Markets Charities’ Mission:

At Publix Charities, we endeavor to support nonprofit organizations that assist people in need within our communities, so that they have the opportunity to lead successful lives. We are dedicated to preserving the dignity and value of the human spirit in the face of adversity, determined to offer people hope and a choice for the future, and devoted to the highest standards of community involvement as demonstrated by our founder, George W. Jenkins.