Past Newsletters
Dear Subscriber,
Mother’s Day is this coming weekend!
For some of you who are moms of young children, that might mean lovingly created school crafts and a creative breakfast in bed made by your young chefs-in-training.
If you are a mom to older kids and teens, perhaps you’re looking forward to a promised screen-free family brunch or picnic.
If your kids are adults, maybe it’s a long-overdue catch up over coffee or Zoom – or maybe even a visit from the grandkids.
And for many whose mothers have passed away or are not a part of their lives, I know that Mother’s Day can also be painful, especially if the loss of that relationship is fresh.
This Mother’s Day, I’m thinking about the moms of CHT, the ones playing in the backyards of their CHT homes with their kids; watching their teens bike to school down the street; meeting up with family members at a local restaurant for that Mother’s Day brunch. Because of support from community members like you, we have been able to make it possible for moms like Erika and Priscilla and Kim to achieve their dreams of homeownership for the first time.
In fact, 27% of CHT homes are single-parent households, and the majority of those single parents are moms. For most of them, without CHT’s support, homeownership was just not a goal they could even dream of.
You probably have your own special memories of how your mom made home special for you. Or maybe it was your grandma, your aunt, or your best friend’s mom who gave you that cozy-at-home feeling when you were a kid – or if you’re really lucky, even still does today.
This Mother’s Day, I invite you to help Community Home Trust support more moms and grandmas and aunties and “moms” of all sorts as they pursue their homeownership dreams. Before you head out to brunch or hang your newest one-of-a-kind kid art, would you consider making a gift to CHT to help another mom make her dream come true? You can even dedicate your gift to a special mom in your life.
In partnership, and with gratitude for all the moms we celebrate this weekend,
Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director
Development Updates
We’re excited about the progress in Bridgepoint!
As soon as late this summer, the first of five CHT homes in this new KB Home community should be available for purchase. We can’t wait until it’s ready!
If you are interested in purchasing a home in Bridgepoint from CHT, it’s important to apply to our program as soon as possible. We will not have a separate application process for Bridgepoint, and CHT sales will not be handled through KB Home. As with all our other home sales, our Bridgepoint homes will be sold to applicants already on our CHT applicant list.
New on the Blog: CHT Homeowners Speak Out!
At every Town Council meeting, before starting in on the planned agenda, Council members welcome comments from any community members that want to share their thoughts on something not on the agenda. Each community member has up to three minutes to talk directly with their representatives about whatever is on their minds. We have heard from Council members directly how significant it is when community members share during this time, and it’s an especially good time to thank Council for their work and commitment to housing for everyone in Town.
At a recent Council meeting, CHT homeowners Eric Bredesen, P.J. Miller, and Tina Nicholson each spoke for three minutes about being part of the community in Chapel Hill and what it means to them to be able to own their own homes in town. Hear what they had to say, and learn how you can join them in speaking out!
Congratulations, Kimberly!
Our Executive Director, Kimberly Sanchez, recently graduated from Leadership Triangle’s Transforming Leaders program as a Goodmon Fellow.
In the Community
Join Community Home Trust at the “Be Well” Resource Fair and Family Fun Event on Saturday, May 20 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Hargraves Center in Chapel Hill (216 N. Roberson St.)!
In celebration of Mental Health Awareness month, come out for an engaging afternoon with resources and activities promoting physical, mental, and emotional health for all ages!
This event is co-hosted by Alliance Health, Orange County Department of Health and Orange County Department of Social Services in partnership with multiple community agencies.
Leadership Triangle
NEXT Chapel Hill-Carrboro, in conjunction with the Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving and Making History and Community Empowerment Fund, will host a community learn-shop entitled, “Abundance-Based Development and Housing Justice” on Thursday, June 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at Interfaith Council for Social Services.
The session is free but please register online to assist the organizers with a headcount.
Operation Fan Heat Relief
As temperatures begin rising, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief May 1 – Oct. 31 to help older adults at risk stay safe this summer.
CHT Homeowners: A Sign?
You may recently have seen a new group on social media called “Chapel Hill for All.” They’re offering yard signs encouraging housing for everyone in Town, and we’d love to purchase a sign for any of our homeowners to display at your home. Want one? Just reply to this email and let us know, and we’ll get it right to you.
Upcoming Education Opportunities
CHT Orientation: Everyone is welcome to attend this in-depth introduction to our program in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Conducted in a hybrid format — in-person and Zoom options available. Next session: May 18, 6 p.m. Register here.
Homebuyer Education: This 8-hour class is offered in-person in our office (105 Conner Drive, Suite 1000, Chapel Hill) and gives potential buyers the tools to navigate the home-buying process. Completion of this class is a requirement of the program and most lenders, and attendance for the whole session is required to receive the certificate. This class is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Next session: June 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Supplemental live sessions are also available for those who have attended an online program. Contact Program Coordinator Deja Gilmore at dgilmore@communityhometrust.org for details and to register.
Home Maintenance: Open to CHT homeowners only and conducted via Zoom. Discuss the major systems of a home, typical maintenance, troubleshooting, and potential expenses. This also is an opportunity to review the CHT Stewardship program. Contact Property Manager Ian Morse at imorse@communityhometrust.org for more information about dates and registration.
Lunch and Learn: If you want to learn more about Community Home Trust and our land trust model in a casual setting, this is the place for you! Join us for free coffee and bagels at a lunch and learn session in our office. Our next session will be held on June 16 at 11:30 a.m. Register here.
Recommended Reading
“The Triangle’s growing debate around neighborhood zoning,” Zachery Eanes, Axios Raleigh, 4/24/23.
“There’s a ‘flurry’ of NC housing bills. What’s in them, and what might pass?” Kelly Kenoyer, WFAE.org, 4/24/23.
“New York Officials Failed to Address the Housing Crisis. Now What? ” Luis Ferré-Sadurní and Mihir Zaveri, The New York Times, 4/27/23.
