Nonprofit plans to renovate old Concord plant to help families in housing crises

CONCORD, N.C. — A local nonprofit plans to convert an old manufacturing plant in Concord into transitional housing.

On Wednesday, the Cooperative Christian Ministry announced it bought the Brown Mill property on Cabarrus Avenue. It’s a 10.5-acre plot of land with four buildings totaling about 220,000 square feet.

The plant was built in the early 1900s and was called Brown Manufacturing Company. Eventually, it became part of Cannon Mills Plant 10 and created textile products.

The Cooperative Christian Ministry wants to convert the land and buildings into what they’ve dubbed “The Rebuilders Campus at Brown Mill Commons.” The nonprofit, in partnership with the community, wants to meet the need for transitional housing in Cabarrus County.

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CCM also wants to create a stable source of housing for those in a housing crisis, as well as “nutritional support and access to resources to promote housing stability.”

Two apartment buildings will be built for now; the nonprofit plans to have four eventually. The Rebuilders Campus will also have a program and activity center that would include daycare facilities for 48 families living there.

“The campus will serve single and two-parent families with children, senior adults and working age adults in employment transition with stable housing, plus nutrition, health, academic, and employment supports just steps away from clients’ single-family apartments,” a news release from CCM reads.

In addition, residents will have case managers who can mentor them on responsibility and autonomy.

“Cabarrus County is experiencing a housing crisis that is rapidly escalating into a homelessness crisis. Senior adults and families with children are finding themselves without options for safe and stable housing,” a statement from Ed Hosack, CCM’s Chief Executive Officer, reads. “The Rebuilders Campus is the first of two major initiatives where CCM is partnering with County and City leaders and engaging the community to help these households restore dignity, family finances and housing stability.”

(WATCH BELOW: ‘It is going to change my life’: New affordable housing development coming to Concord)