Member Login
Join
Donate
Member Login
Join
Donate

Lunch & Learn: Affordable Housing in Charlotte

By Leslie Cramer

The Women’s Impact Fund held its third Lunch & Learn event, focusing on the pressing issue of affordable housing in Charlotte. Tonya Bruce moderated a panel of representatives from Charlotte nonprofits focused on addressing housing insecurity and providing support services.

Our panelists included Kristina Aquilone from Supportive Housing Communities, Shakieta Maloye from Another Chance House Of Refuge, and Beth Silverman from The Lotus Campaign. The Supportive Housing Communities is a Charlotte nonprofit that provides affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering. Another Chance Charlotte is a local nonprofit that assists low-income individuals and families with creating purpose, remaining empowered, sustaining, and remaining self-sufficient. The Lotus Campaign bridges nonprofits (who identify people at risk of homelessness) and landlords (who have available units).

The discussion highlighted the declining trend of affordable housing units in Charlotte from 60,000 units 10 years ago to less than 25,000 units in 2024. Kristina from Support Housing Communities discussed how a shift is occurring from individuals to whole families experiencing homelessness with the rising cost burden and limited low-income housing.  Shakita reported an increase of 23% in homelessness nationally in 2023 which is the highest increase since 2007. Point-In-Time data for Mecklenburg County reports a 35% increase since 2020.

The conversation also touched on the involvement of wraparound case management support for mental health to meet the unhoused where they are and get them supportive services that are right for them. Supportive Housing Communities and Another Chance both provide mental health support, case management, and even psychiatric support for their clients.

Beth discussed how The Lotus Campaign partners with private landlords to be the economic guarantor for low-income renters. Approaching private real estate landlords and asking to try the program with one unit with the hopes of expanding to multiple units to increase the affordable housing to low-income families.

Shakita brought up that the minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour. A full-time worker compensated at the minimum wage rate would need nearly 100% of their income for a 1-bedroom apartment with a fair market value of $1185 per month. So individuals are working two or more jobs to provide for their families.

The speakers emphasized the significance of community involvement in council meetings to have voices heard and address changes to minimum wage laws and housing shortages. Showing up to vote and signing petitions to change the legislation that allows the snowball effect of low income, housing shortage, expensive childcare, and more to keep low-income individuals in poverty and economic instability.

Thank you to everyone who put the lunch and learns together the speakers, and the attendees of these great events!

Return to Blog
Scroll to Top

Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.