King’s Ridge takes a step toward ending homelessness in Raleigh.
Raleigh is one step closer to solving homelessness. It’s an epidemic on the rise—including on the very streets we all walk every day. In fact, according to the Wake County Point in Time Count, ~1,000 individuals are currently experiencing homelessness on any given night—a 200% increase since 2020.
Now, a cutting-edge concept has made an immediate 15% dent in those stats. Expected to take ~148 people off the street, the freshly debuted King’s Ridge serves up 100 one-, two- and three-bedroom units designated and designed for individuals and families who have a history of homelessness and insufficient credit to qualify for conventional housing.
Chronically homeless people make up: 33% of ER visits costing $44K a year/person
Permanent housing reduces: Health care costs by 59% ER costs by 61% Hospitalizations by 77%
Named for the late former CASA CEO and affordable housing champion Debra King, the Triangle-based affordable housing nonprofit’s most ambitious project to date has already assigned all units in collaboration with street outreach and shelter providers. “We went to the folks that did this work every day to give us our residents,” explains King’s Ridge Director Erin Yates of the community’s efforts to ensure a true focus on Raleigh’s most vulnerable. “We wanted to make sure they follow a housing-first model—meaning there are no requirements before you move in. You don’t take a class or have to be part of a program.” In short, the housing complex meets residents where they are—all of them are able to move in exactly as they are.
While King’s Ridge isn’t free, residents only pay one-third of their monthly income for rent each month and can renew yearly. According to housing affordability devotee and former Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, the largest barrier for the homeless isn’t affording rent—at least 60% of Raleigh’s homeless population have jobs. The real barrier is the ability to put down a security deposit plus first and last month’s rent.
But the monumental project wasn’t realized overnight. It’s been seven years since Molly Painter—now chair of the King’s Ridge Campaign Leadership Committee—picked up Kathy Izard’s The Hundred Story Home. Upon learning of Charlotte’s housing for the homeless, Painter resolved Raleigh could and would achieve the same. A whopping $23 million later—raised in partnership with CASA—the East Raleigh project broke ground in 2022.
“It feels like home,” Painter tells RM—“which is exactly how we want it to feel. The community said yes [and] was very generous—the county was very generous. … Individuals and corporations came together to make it happen.”
Now, locals are finally beginning to move in. One resident who, after a car accident, was rendered unable to work and experienced homelessness, moved into King’s Ridge last in February. “[The resident] said after a couple nights’ sleep, ‘I realized there is a word I’ve never used for myself: I feel calm,’” shares Yates.
While similar housing-first models have been around for decades, they’re new to Raleigh, emphasizes Yates—and she hopes to show the model gives long-term stability for the homeless. “We’ve already had conversations with folks in Asheville, Greensboro and Wilmington,” she adds.
Baldwin, who, during her mayoral tenure, advocated for $10 million for King’s Ridge from the city—and now continues her passion for the cause as executive director of the Cooper Charitable Foundation—is also eager to see how the project inspires other cities’ affordable housing options. “People were like ‘Oh, [$10 million] is a lot of money,’ but so is treating homeless people in emergency rooms—that costs more money than sheltering,” observes Baldwin, noting, too, it is far less expensive than providing health care to people living on the streets. In short, providing shelter isn’t just the compassionate thing to do—it’s also the best financial move for the city.
Baldwin’s backing stems from King Ridge’s wraparound on-site supportive services for residents. “A home and the services they need to stay sheltered—that is what really sold me,” she reveals.
Two medical clinics, case managers and ample community space will supply the necessary tools to heal. To boot, the complex is ideally situated near WakeMed’s Raleigh campus, Wake County’s health services building and the future bus rapid transit line.
Mirroring other conventional apartments, King’s Ridge residents have full control of their schedules and can come and go as they please. The model recognizes the prominence of housing as the first step in handling other challenges—and the apartment’s services will help tackle these lingering obstacles. Backed by the community and aligned with a housing-first mindset, King’s Ridge is setting the bar—and taking a large stride toward ending homelessness.
Upcoming Affordable Housing Projects
Hope Village at Method: Under construction Housing and support for Raleigh youth aging out of foster care located in the Method neighborhood
Maple Ridge Apartments: Construction slated for 2025 146 affordable units with 30 units in NW Raleigh for those with disabilities or who are experiencing homelessness
Strickland Apartments : Construction slated for 2025 148 affordable units with 30 units off Strickland Road for those with disabilities or who are experiencing homelessness
Moore Square Apartments: Construction slated for 2025 160 affordable rental units with 32 units in DTR for those with disabilities or experiencing homelessness
Where to get sh*t done around town? We have your best bathroom lineup on lock (!).
Madre This mod-chic bathroom is either your best friend or your worst nightmare—the difference is made by ensuring the lock is turned all the way so the translucent door is frosted. Pro tip: If you can see out, they can see in. Possible flashing sitch aside, the neon-lit lavatory sports pink-ish hues, stacking up to be a prime squat (and selfie) spot. @madreraleigh
Clockwork If Beetlejuice were a bathroom, it would be this one. Stroll through the trippy black-and-white-striped Tim Burton-esque hallway—and a literal nod to its namesake A Clockwork Orange—for a mind-bending-meets-magnificent photo op you can and should take advantage of on the way to the Glenwood watering hole’s pinked-out powder room. @clockwork919
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Stella’s Feeling frisky? So is the PG-13-rated bathroom at this girly Downtown dive. Get glam at one of two vanities under a glittering chandelier illuminating the plethora of risqué photographs and magazine covers coating the walls—and dry your hands under the colorful rhinestone-bedazzled paper towel holder. And don’t fret, there’s plenty of spots to stash your purse while you go. So, truly a bathroom for the girls. @stellasonwest
Watts & Ward Tucked away in an inconspicuous corner, these always-clean and never busy potty palaces are dark enough to make you think your makeup still looks great post-speakeasy romp—plus the gold-trimmed mirrors and tiled floors make for the perfect mirror selfie op. @wattsandward
Postino Step into a dark and moody time warp among retro Roy Lichtenstein-esque music prints (hey, Elvis!) and colorful concert-flyer collages coating the ceiling and melding with trippy tiled walls—more than enough vintage vibes to powder your nose in. @postinowinecafe
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Johnson Street Yacht Club In your Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” era? This perfectly sleazy suite is a primo pick for an edgy pit stop. Feed into your nonchalant and detached attitude with wallpaper quipping your sentiments exactly—plus mints, magazines and feminine products, JIC. @jsyachtclub
Raleigh aims to eliminate crash fatalities with new initiative
In 2023, Raleigh experienced over 19,000 car crashes, resulting in 41 fatalities. These staggering numbers—in combination with the city’s steadily increasing population—are inspiring plans for safer, more equitable and better-connected transportation. And thanks to a federal grant, the city is further working to build roads that are safer for all via a new program.
Aptly called “Safe Streets and Roads for All,” the initiative builds on the city’s Vision Zero program and prioritizes the elimination of roadway crashes resulting in fatalities and severe injuries—with the aim to reduce injury crashes by 25% every five years and 100% by 2045.
“Vision Zero and the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan are about taking a proactive approach,” explains Mayor Janet Cowell. To boot, the city will examine infrastructure, traffic patterns and crash data to identify and then implement necessary changes. “In a rapidly growing city like Raleigh, every safety improvement we make is essential to preventing future tragedies and protecting our community,” Cowell emphasizes.
An 18-month study with the initial grant is underway, observing what locations would most benefit from improved infrastructure—like additional protected left-hand turn lanes—and to understand what behavioral problems (like lack of seatbelt use or speeding) need to be addressed most urgently.
Once the study is wrapped up, a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will be assembled—a requirement for eligibility to apply for up to $30 mill in additional grant money to help bring the plan to life.
Keeping Raleighites safe while driving has always been a top priority, though, emphasizes Sean Driskill, Vision Zero program manager with the City of Raleigh’s Transportation Department. “For the last two and a half years we’ve been making improvements around the city,” he says, “but this study will help us ensure the improvements we’re making are at the locations that will have the most impact.”
“There’s a small percentage of locations we can improve through infrastructure,” Driskill adds, “but if we really want to achieve Vision Zero we need many of the behaviors of drivers around Raleigh to change.” raleighnc.gov
Cruise ’round Raleigh via a new way to rent bicycles.
Ready to ride? Check out (!) The Bike Library, Raleigh’s new trailside bike-borrowing biz that pedaled into the rental game last fall (move over e-bikes!) and is now opening a storefront and coffee shop at Platform.
“I noticed many friends wanted to [ride] but didn’t have access to good bikes,” says owner/founder Cameron Zamot, who rolled out his concept with six bikes he bought and propped up for rent at local businesses. “Buying a bike can be expensive, and renting options in Raleigh were lacking compared to places like Asheville.”
By early May, the rentals had caught on, and Zamot secured a contract with NC State to open an independent location of The Bike Library on the greenway near Lake Raleigh with eight high-quality bikes (including helmets and tool kits) available to rent for up to four days at a time. “My goal is to become a permanent part of Raleigh’s small business community and get more people on bikes,” says Zamot. … “I saw an opportunity to make a difference.” So, gear up for accessible summer bike rides.thebikelibrary.com
We’ve compiled a list of some of the city’s Black-owned restaurants, shops, fitness centers, arts studios and other businesses for you to shop, savor and support. Here’s to Raleigh’s Black community.
