We are excited to tell you more about St. Paul’s donation to the Carr Center, a groundbreaking community development that will expand affordable housing and critical services for working families in Wake County. Our Senior Warden, Dan Loughlin, shares more information below. You can download a copy of this announcement here.
Dear Friends,
From 1991, the Episcopal Housing Ministry (EHM) worked with local developers to finance and build affordable housing for low income and unhoused individuals. St. Paul’s supported EHM primarily through the tireless efforts of parishioner Bill Shenton, who for many years served as an officer and president of EHM’s board. Changing financial conditions and other factors led EHM to the difficult decision to wind down operations in late 2023, selling its properties. However, the EHM board was determined that the proceeds from those sales be used in support of the organization’s mission.
In early 2024, Bill came to the Rev. George Adamik, rector of St. Paul’s, with a proposal. EHM had decided to divide its $1.2 million in assets among four churches that had supported its work. The recipient churches would need to apply the funds “solely to the support and assistance of individuals and families who are homeless, inadequately housed, or who reside in low-income housing facilities.” Funds could not be co-mingled with operating funds, and the churches should take a deliberate and discerning approach to determining their use. Fr. George brought this proposal to the vestry, which enthusiastically voted to accept the proposal.
The vestry convened a small committee of parishioners to investigate options. We are extremely thankful for the efforts of Katie Bricio, Kim McCombs, and Chris Reddinger, which culminated in a recommendation to the vestry in May that Cary’s Carr Center be the recipient of these funds. The presentation was spectacular, and so was the opportunity. The vestry approved the recommendation and initiated the process to transfer the funds. St. Paul’s announced our donation this week via a press release.
We are excited to tell you about the Carr Center. The Center, located in central Cary on land owned by Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, will be a $26 million mixed-use project developed in partnership with The Carying Place, DHIC, the YMCA, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, and the Town of Cary. The Center will include 11 transitional housing units for homeless working families and 51 affordable rental units. Additionally, Greenwood Forest’s Childcare Center will expand to full-day to provide affordable childcare and early education to the Center’s residents, and the YMCA will provide programming for youth. Program and office space will allow The Carying Place to expand financial literacy education, workforce development, and family support services.
Would you like to know more about this incredible investment in our community? This coming Sunday provides several opportunities! The Rev. Wes Spears-Newsome of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church will be our guest homilist at the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services, and he will also be presenting about the Center and answering questions during Adult Formation in the Chapel. Please join us to hear this great story.
Dan Loughlin
Senior Warden, St. Paul’s Vestry