'Charlotte is home': An Affordable Housing Resource Guide

Published on May 31, 2025

Woman and man hugging as the woman holds us a big plastic key that says just closed.

Zayn Bey with her realtor Michael Taylor after she bought her house. (Zayn Bey)

By Morgan Newell

Zayn Bey has lived in Charlotte all her life.

“I thought people were joking when they said there are not a lot of native Charlotteans ‘cause I am here, and I know people who have always lived here, but when I go out and meet people they always are like that’s so cool,” Bey said.

Bey’s family is originally from New Bern, but her grandmother decided to move to Charlotte in the 90s. Her family decided to pick up and move too. Bey said she has been there ever since.

“Charlotte is home,” Bey said.

Bey’s favorite part about Charlotte is it is a big city with a small-town feel. She loves enveloping herself in the hustle and bustle of Uptown, then driving just 10 minutes down the road to get the quiet comfort of a more suburban neighborhood. Finding places to go out with friends is just as easy as seeing smiling faces while walking down the streets. While she enjoys the concerts and activities that happen in the city, she also admires the parks and green spaces she can take her two kids. Bey says this city is just unique.

“I think we get the best of both worlds here in Charlotte,” she said. “We have it good here.

When she wanted to move out of her apartment and buy a house in the city she loves, she thought she’d continue to have it just as good. However, things were not as easy as she had hoped. For two years, trying to get a house was a nightmare. She had all the paperwork, the loans and the research. What she did not have is a house she could find in her price range.

“I needed a three bedroom,” she said. “I just couldn’t find anything I could afford. Then, when I did, I was getting outbid by investors.”

The cycle continued until she reached out to the right real estate agent. He pointed her to the City of Charlotte’s House Charlotte Program. The program, in partnership with DreamKey Partners, helps prospective homebuyers

“Third time was the charm,” Bey said. “I was able to get the grants and get a home in one of the affordable housing neighborhoods. I was just so happy for the help.”

Woman and man sitting together while woman signs document
Bey reading over documents as she signs for her house. (Zayn Bey)

The House Charlotte Program isn’t the only housing assistance program the City of Charlotte offers. Our Housing and Neighborhood Services department provides several affordable housing opportunities, from help with lead remediation to housing counseling.

Below, you will find several of the resources the City of Charlotte offers for homeowners, homebuyers, renters and anyone else looking for housing information. If you would like to find all the information we provide, visit the city’s Housing page or reach out to Housing and Neighborhood Services at 704-336-3380.

Emergency Housing Assistance

While Mecklenburg County takes the lead on addressing homelessness in the area, the City of Charlotte also offers emergency housing assistance. If you or someone you know is facing housing instability, consider the following resources:

  • NC 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) for information on local services.
  • Coordinated Entry: Call 704-284-9665 if you are homeless or at imminent risk in Mecklenburg County.
  • Crisis Assistance Ministry: Call 704-371-3001 for rent or utility assistance.
  • Housing Collaborative: Reach out at affordablehousing.com or housingcollab.org for rental housing support.
  • Dispute Settlement Program: For landlord-tenant mediation services.

For more information, visit the Emergency Housing Assistance page.

Homeownership Assistance

Charlotte provides several programs to assist prospective homeowners:

House Charlotte Program

  • Administered by: DreamKey Partners
  • Assistance: Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance for eligible buyers.
  • Eligibility: Households with incomes up to 110% of the area median income.
  • Requirements: Completion of HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling.
  • Contact: DreamKey Partners at 704-705-3999 or HouseCharlotte@dkp.org.

Housing Counseling & Education

Partners

  • DreamKey Partners: Provides homebuyer education and counseling services.
  • Contact: Community Link at 800-977-1969 or 704-943-9490; DreamKey Partners at 704-342-0933.

For more details, visit the Community Resource Directory.

Home Repair & Rehabilitation

For homeowners in need of repairs:

  • Safe Home Rehabilitation Program: Assists with necessary home repairs to ensure safety and habitability.
  • LeadSafe Charlotte: Provides lead hazard remediation for homes built before 1978.
  • Emergency Repair Program: Offers urgent repairs to address immediate safety concerns.

For more information, visit the Affordable Housing page.

A picture of a new apartment complex with ballons in the front.
One of the newest affordable housing complexes, Evoke Living at Eastland Yards. (Charlotte Communication and Marketing)

Affordable Housing Properties

The City of Charlotte is actively working to increase affordable housing options. Currently, there are more than 130 affordable housing properties in Charlotte. For a breakdown, about 80 of those properties are for families and almost 40 are for seniors. The other properties include shelters and supportive housing. Please note, AMI stands for Area Median Income, which is a metric representing median income in a specific area. Here are a few examples of what eligibility requirements the properties have for potential candidates:

Evoke Living at Westerly Hills

  • Income Levels: 30%–80% of AMI, income-averaged to 60%
  • Target Residents: Families
  • Developer: Public-private partnership with Crosland Southeast

Charlotte Woods Apartments

  • Income Levels:
    • 80 units for households earning 30% or less of AMI
    • 133 units for households earning up to 60% of AMI
    • 53 units for households earning up to 80% of AMI
  • Target Residents: Families
  • Financing: $8 million from the Housing Trust Fund; participation in the city's Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) rental subsidy program

The Legacy at Carr Heights Senior Apartments

  • Target Residents: Seniors aged 55 and older
  • Developer: Paces Preservation Partners (The Paces Foundation and Soho Housing Partners)

For more information on affordable housing properties and upcoming developments, visit the Affordable Housing page.

Additional Resources

  • Housing Trust Fund: Since 2001, the Housing Trust Fund has provided financing to developers for affordable housing, creating or preserving over 10,000 units and 888 shelter beds. For more information, visit the Housing Trust Fund page.
  • Community Resource Directory: A comprehensive directory of community resources, including affordable housing assistance. Access the directory here.
  • If you own your home and you need an emergency repair, call 704-371-3001.
  • For fair housing complaints, call 704-336-5160 or visit Fair Housing.
  • For tenant-landlord mediation services, contactDispute Settlement Program
  •  For legal aid services, contact 866-219-5262 or visit Legal Aid of NC.

We hope this overview of the City of Charlotte’s affordable housing resources helps get you started. However, we acknowledge that it does not cover the full scope of what is available to our residents. For that, the Housing and Neighborhood Services department is available to walk you through any needs you might have, just as they did for Bey.

Bey says the help she received is a big reason why she’s a homeowner today. Now, she says she’s building generational wealth she hopes to leave to her kids.

“I tell all my friends to reach out and see what assistance they might be able to get,” she said. “It is so important to advocate for yourself because you never know what someone can do to help you achieve your goals.”

As a reminder, for any additional information on the city’s Housing page or reach out to Housing and Neighborhood Services at 704-336-3380.

Tagged as:
Back to top