Caroline County teachers and first responders may soon be able to afford a home in the county because of a program designed to make purchasing one more attainable.
The county’s board of supervisors heard recently from organizers of the Teach, Respond and Thrive Housing Initiative.
“If you’re a teacher or first responder, we want to help you live in the county that you work and serve,” said Jason Tickle, President and CEO of Habitat of Caroline, one of the community partners involved in the initiative.
Tickle was joined by Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Sarah Calveric and Erica Dutcher, who works in program relations with Central Virginia Housing.
The trio told the supervisors that the program has the potential to help the county recruit and retain quality educators.
“I hope that what you see is the power of partnership, what you hear is a reflection of the board of supervisors’ initial and continuing investment in Habitat for Humanity and what you feel once fully informed is excitement for what is to come for the Caroline community and especially our CCPS educators,” Calveric said.
Dutcher said Central Virginia Housing currently manages 65 below-market rental units and is acquiring Angelwood at Caroline, an affordable housing community in Bowling Green. Dutcher said that by next year, Central Virginia Housing, which serves the Fredericksburg region, will own 112 properties in Caroline “that we’re going to be able to provide to this community.”
Dutcher noted that teachers and first responders will be able to rent from Central Virginia Housing for two years and that will give them the rental and salary history needed to build a home with Habitat of Caroline.
Dutcher said there will be a revolving door of educators and first responders transitioning into home ownership, which will open the rental properties for newcomers to the program.
“We’re going to have this constant turnover of available and affordable housing for these staff members,” Dutcher said.
The presentation cited the county’s struggles to retain quality educators and first responders as well as attracting new talent. School officials believe one of the contributing factors to that issue is a lack of affordable housing options within the county.
According to the slideshow presented to the supervisors, difficulty securing housing that aligns with salaries is a concern as is increased commute times, which in turn lead to reduced job satisfaction. Another issue is that potential job candidates are deterred because of the housing shortage.
Dutcher said housing for teachers and first responders impacts the quality of education for the county’s youth and the level of care available to residents. She said the affordable housing shortage creates barriers to retention and recruitment and affects the county’s tax base.
“Where you live is where you spend your money,” Dutcher said. “So, when our educators and first responders are living outside the area, they are not spending their money in Caroline County.”
The supervisors weren’t require to act on the presentation. They did, however, express continued support of the Habitat of Caroline program. Board Chair Jeff Black of the Western Caroline District said he’s looking forward to 20 habitat homes being constructed soon in the Bridlewood subdivision off of Ladysmith Road.
Mattaponi District Supervisor Floyd Thomas showed interest in attending Central Virginia Housing’s beautification day at Angelwood Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Dutcher said the agency’s entire staff will participate.
