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Over thirty years ago, members of St. Michael’s and representatives of sister Episcopal Churches, formed the Episcopal Housing Ministry. The goal was to develop affordable housing that also provided a range of social services for residents. The late Bob Henley, a longtime member of our parish, was the visionary behind the ministry, and along with Hugh Stevens and key partners from St. Paul’s in Cary, St. Andrew’s in Rocky Mount, and St. Philip’s in Durham, the Episcopal Housing Ministry built several affordable housing complexes. In time, the ministry wound down its ownership of the apartment complexes, though they remain as viable affordable housing options to this day. When the EHM closed its operations recently, they decided to give their remaining assets to the four parishes who supported the work all these years with the stipulation that the money be used for new affordable housing work in the spirit of the original mission.
When we learned of this pending gift several months ago, the vestry and I formed a committee to determine how we would put the funds to work in accordance with the stipulations that came with them. Senior Warden Steve Rolander, vestry members Ruth Scott, Hayden Constance and Molly Painter, and former Senior Warden John Connell, met regularly to examine ideas and formulate a plan. Given their history of deep personal involvement in affordable housing work, they were a perfect group of committed parishioners with both expertise and passion for this mission. They decided last month that all of the funds would be applied to one project which they felt had the best chance of success, and which would offer an ongoing opportunity for our parish to remain involved. The vestry approved their recommendation, and I am so proud to say that a couple of weeks ago we gave a check for $300,000 to the Raleigh Area Land Trust (RALT), which is finishing up fundraising for their exciting project in downtown Raleigh. Our gift will help get them across the finish line.
RALT works to expand affordable homeownership opportunities for homebuyers with low-to-moderate incomes (50-80% Area Median Income) so that they can live or remain in communities most affected by displacement. Through its renewable ground lease and permanent shared land ownership, RALT offers opportunities to multiple families through the
preservation of one property. This model supports the community by maintaining a portfolio of affordable homes for generations (99+ years).
The project is called The Cottages of Idlewild, just a couple blocks from the front entrance of St. Augustine’s. The Cottages of Idlewild will be a cottage court that consists of 18 total units of mixed-income homeownership duplexes and rental opportunities to expand affordability long-term in the Lane-Idlewild community. The neighborhood dates back to the earliest days when African Americans in Raleigh first began to own homes, after the Civil War. But like so many of our historically black neighborhoods, development has begun pricing people out of their community. I am so proud that the metaphorical mustard seed that members of our parish planted decades ago not only flourished, but has now allowed yet another seed to be sown.
These days, when the world roils around us, let us remember what must always be next for us – to follow Jesus.
Greg ✝︎
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