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The Moravian Church seeks to rectify its role in creating marginalized communities in W-S

Fine Line Homes is building four 1,500 sq. ft. homes priced at $194,500 as part of the Equitable Housing Project.

The Moravian Church seeks to rectify its role in creating marginalized communities in W-S
January 30
10:00 2025

Stakeholders and those with invested interest in The Equitable Homeownership Project came together last week to discuss how the project, being spearheaded by the Moravian Church, is about more than building houses. It’s about addressing the need for affordable housing and moving families out of poverty. 

When discussing the project with The Chronicle a few weeks ago, Rev. Russell May, who represents the local Moravian Church, explained that the project was born in response to the Moravian Church’s role in the creation of marginalized communities in Winston-Salem and a course correction by the church. 

After conversations between Moravian clergy, community leaders, and several different organizations including the Institute for Dismantling Racism, Action4Equity, Partnership for Prosperity, Simon G. Atkins CDC, Triad Cultural Arts, and Healings Heights, May said they started laying the foundation for the housing initiative with the sole purpose of closing the gap in homeownership and generational wealth, specifically in residents from historically marginalized neighborhoods. 

The Equitable Housing Project targets households with less than 80% annual median income. What’s unique about the project is that it brings together every aspect of the home-buying process, from the general contractor, the real estate agent, and the mortgage lenders under one umbrella. 

“It’s not enough to be able to build an affordable home. For this to work out, it also had to take a collaborative approach that brought together every aspect of the process of building and buying a home,” May said. “What’s happening here is these partners are sitting together and talking about the person applying and what do we have to do to help them successfully get this mortgage, keep this home, and be able to pass it down as an inheritance.”

The Moravian Church Southern Province will serve as the project developer. Fine Line Homes, which specializes in semi-custom builds, has signed on to build the homes, as well as The Hawkins Group, a local Black- owned real estate agency. Piedmont Federal Bank will provide mortgages and the Forsyth County’s First Time Homebuyers Program has also joined the initiative, helping cut costs. The project follows Fair Housing laws and utilizes Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-based verification of eligibility. 

Chis Dolan, with Fine Line Homes, said when they decided to take this project on, they did it with the understanding that they would be covering all overhead costs and keep costs as low as possible for potential homeowners. “We’re a Christian-owned family company and it was the right thing to do and we’re doing our best to work alongside the Moravian Church,” Dolan said. 

The homes are 1,500 sq. ft. three bedrooms, 2.5 bathroom, two-story traditional construction, complete with the same boutique style finishes inside and outside. Prototypes have been appraised between $280,000 and $300,000, but the maximum sale price has been capped at $194,500. 

Applicants for the project are also eligible for additional assistance through the county’s First Time Home Buyers Program. The city will bring the sale price down at least an additional $20,000. Bianca Green, loan officer and housing counselor, said the mission of the First Time Home Buyers Program is to educate. The program offers courses on the needs to achieve homeownership, whether that be funds to assist with the down payment or the guidance to navigate financial stability. 

“One of the main components of the assistance we provide is educating the homebuyer so that they are aware that this is an asset. How to acquire that asset, how to protect that asset,” Green said. “We want them to be fully prepared to be able to maintain that asset and thrive. And it’s life-changing. I’ve helped close to 1,700 people and what really touches my heart is how much lives have been changed generationally.” 

Piedmont Federal Bank, which has served the community since 1903, is determined to see historically marginalized families succeed at stable homeownership. Michele Mitchell, director of mortgage banking, said Piedmont Federal is honored to be able to open doors to generational wealth. She said being a community lender allows them to be in constant contact with the buyer to ensure they have the support they need. 

“With this project we are thrilled to be opening doors to families who have historically been shut out of opportunities like this,” Mitchell said. “This partnership is what community reinvestment looks like and not only is it providing a home for today, it is offering a better future for generations to come.” 

Allonda Hawkins, owner of The Hawkins Group Real Estate, mentioned that over the years she has served hundreds of families across the Triad, and has grown frustrated with the lack of access to affordable housing. So when she first heard about The Equitable Homeownership Project, Hawkins had her reservations, but after long talks she finally came around.

“I’ll be the first to say I was a bit skeptical and a bit jaded when this project was first introduced,” Hawkins said. “I pushed back a lot, I poked holes a lot. However, after learning about the heart, the intention behind these efforts,  I can honestly say I’m honored to stand here and be a part of this conversation that is much bigger than real estate.” 

Last year the Moravian Church took its proposal to the City of Winston-Salem with a plan to build 20 homes. The City of Winston-Salem owns several lots across the city that they sell to nonprofits and developers for $1, in exchange for the promise to build affordable housing. After concerns were raised about the lack of experience doing this kind of work, the number of homes was cut from 20 to four. Despite being told a day before that their project had been cut, May said he didn’t let it discourage him. Instead he used it as an opportunity to show what they could do.  

The City awarded the Moravian Church four lots in the Southwest Ward in June 2024. Fine Line Homes has already completed framing and all HVAC, plumbing and electrical. And Hawkins and Mitchell is already working with potential buyers who have completed the First Time Home Buyers Program, which has a backlog of applicants. 

May said the families who move into those first four homes will move “from survival into a thriving mode.” When someone moves into a stable environment, data shows that it has the potential to change their trajectory,” he said. 

While touring one of the homes, Councilmember Scott Andree-Bowen, who represents the Southwest Ward, said he was pleased to see the project come to his ward and his neighborhood. Andree-Bowen explained that he lives just a street over from the four homes being built on Sunset Drive.

“I’m very appreciative of the work the organization has done to  build these homes and excited to be a small part,” he said. “My hope and dream is that more organizations take advantage of this opportunity, but also that the City is pursuing opportunities like this to partner and work with groups like this. I love that they have a people-over-profit mindset.” 

There are about 30 to 40 $1 lots available across different wards of the city. Since last spring, a new application process has been put in place for purchasing lots for the development of affordable housing. Applications were due Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. 

Under the new process and guidelines, May said they have submitted a proposal to build 10 more homes. He mentioned that they are also looking into raising funds to purchase land from individuals or private owners. 

“We can build as often as we can raise the funds and find the land,” he said. “This is a moment-in-time opportunity that is based on a lot of things. It’s based on cost and it’s based on partnerships and collaboration. With the cost, if we see it shoot up, we’re going to have to make some major changes to the design to keep it at $194,500.”

When discussing the project, Rev. Paul Ford, program director for the nonprofit Action4Equity, said the fundamental premise of The Equitable Homeownership Project is that housing is a human right, and that humane housing is one of seven vital conditions for well-being. 

“It’s the anchor to everything. Stable, humane housing is the anchor for every other manner of stability in one’s life,” Ford said. “If you are housing insecure, you are going to be insecure in all the other areas. That’s what we talk about when it comes to education, food insecurity …  that is how important of a project this is.” 

 

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Tevin Stinson

Tevin Stinson

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