Premier Circle
Our next project in the Charlottesville region — the collaborative partnership redeveloping Premier Circle — aims to functionally end chronic homelessness in the community.
The COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate impact on homeless services. Social distancing was difficult in congregate emergency shelters. In trying to solve the problem of providing safe, private shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness, a group of homeless service providers in the Charlottesville region got an idea: redevelop the Red Carpet Inn in Albemarle County in phases, developing non-congregate shelter in the short-term and permanent supportive housing and affordable housing in the long-term.
Read more about the project’s background and story here, via Charlottesville Tomorrow.
The partnership consists of People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM), Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH), Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA), and Virginia Supportive Housing. The partners were able to purchase the land with a landmark $4.25m grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.
Phase One: Spring 2021-Spring 2023
- The Red Carpet Inn renovated into 115 units of non-congregate shelter
- Shelter is TJACH-led and PACEM-staffed
- VSH fundraises for construction
Phase Two: Spring 2023-Spring 2025
- VSH constructs 80 units of PSH
- PHA begins construction on 60 affordable housing apartments
Phase Three: Spring 2025-Fall/Winter 2026
- PHA completes construction
Phase Four: Winter 2026
- Commercial parcel on property improved and sold
VSH will construct 80 permanent supportive housing units. These will be studio apartments serving individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Supportive services will be available onsite for residents.
In April 2021, Albemarle County awarded VSH 22 project-based vouchers, which will subsidize rent in 22 of the units. In VSH properties, residents contribute 30% of their income or $50 per month.
Premier Circle received a reservation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits in the 2021 Accessible Supportive Housing pool and commitments for DHCD HOME funds, Virginia Housing Trust Funds, National Housing Trust Funds and HIEE funds. Additional financing will include Solar Energy Credits, local funding, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta AHP funds, a Virginia Housing REACH Loan, and foundation funds.
Premier Circle will be Virginia Supportive Housing’s second project in the Charlottesville area, joining the Crossings at Fourth and Preston which opened in 2012.