Service Groups and Faith Alliance
12/12/23
In attendance: Jim Ahler, AUMC/WWCM; Phil Welch, Apex Housing Advisory Board; Larry Eckart, Jordan Lutheran; Eddie Mullins, Hope Community Church; Seaira Green, Western Wake Crisis Ministry; Keith Fortier, Agape of NC; Officer V. Carter, Apex PD; B. Nunez, Apex PD; Kara Matthews, Apex UMC; Niki Miller, Shield NC; Officer K. Ragland, Apex PD
The purpose of this final meeting of 2023 was to allow participants to update us on the occurrences of 2023 and share details about their organizations’ upcoming events scheduled for 2024.
- Officer Ragland mentioned they are finishing up their annual Christmas with a Cop campaign. He also informed us that APD Crisis Counselor Khea Morton and APD Officer Spitzer have teamed up to form a Response Team to respond to crisis situations. For 2024, the Apex PD is working with area service providers to create an “Anchor Office” in Apex where citizens can go to learn more about resources available to them.
- Phil Welch of the Apex Housing Advisory Board told us that 164 Affordable Housing units are being built in Apex, across from Walmart. These 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments were purposefully located walking distance from the bus stop on Hwy 55. Tax credits are covering more than ½ the cost of this project, which is the norm. Individuals can go to the DHIC website to file an interest form to be notified when the apartments are ready. People earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income will be eligible. (The Area Median Income for Apex is $117,000)
84 senior affordable homes (apartments) are scheduled to be built by the Post Office.
The community will be called Abby Springs.
Phil also warned that the residents of the 3 manufactured home (mobile home) communities in Apex are at risk of having the land their homes are on sold by the landowners. When this happens, residents are forced to move but currently, there is no affordable place to go. Phil is working with the Town Council to make sure the land continues to be zoned for manufactured homes.
- A possible solution may be to replace the manufactured homes (mobile homes) with modular homes. If this is done, residents would be able to get a mortgage on their home which would allow them to spread payments over 30 years, making the homes more affordable.
- Seaira Green with Western Wake Crisis Ministries described the services they offer including:
- Food pantry with home delivery or curbside pick up
- Financial Assistance to people in financial crisis
- Case management-developing goals, budgeting, planning, financial counseling, accountability
- Assistance with utility bills through a Town of Apex initiative
They deliver “food, hope and conversation” to about 80 people every week with the help of local churches
- Keith Fortier of Agape of NC described his organization as a Christian Foster Care agency. They work with foster families across NC and equip churches to get involved. Keith provides trauma training to foster parents to help them understand their foster kids better. They have recently been awarded a grant specifically to create collaborative opportunities such as the Care Portal. The Care Portal is technology the alerts faith communities in the system of needs of local families The faith communities are then able to meet those needs. This portal will just cover Wake County at first but will hopefully grow to include other counties.
- Eddie Mullins of Hope Community described the operation of their food distribution center that is housed at the Apex campus of Hope Community. Eddie also told us about their Backpack Buddies program that assists Wake County students. Finally, he told us about their partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation to offer Night to Shine to those with special needs. During Night to Shine, those with special needs enjoy a prom while their parents remain on campus to enjoy a dinner date.