Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced a new partnership with Kingdom Development Partners and Ascension CDC in February that expands homeownership opportunities for educators.

The partnership is designed to help address two of the most common barriers CMS educators face when pursuing homeownership: mortgage and financial readiness, as well as limited access to affordable homes. It falls under the broader At Home in CMS initiative, which offers teachers and staff opportunities to live in the communities they serve through rental discounts, pathways to homeownership and financial literacy resources.

The partnership with Kingdom Development Partners and Ascension CDC provides CMS educators with access to Ascension’s WealthPath Homeownership Program, a yearlong program on essential skills such as credit counseling, budgeting, home maintenance and wealth building to help participants become confident, informed homeowners who can purchase homes throughout the Charlotte region. 

Ascension CDC has set aside up to 25 newly constructed homes specifically for CMS educators who successfully complete the program, meet income eligibility requirements and are approved by a lender. This unique opportunity allows educators to purchase a home in Ascension’s mixed-income communities, putting them on an accelerated pathway to build generational wealth through immediate home equity.

These allocated homes are in Legacy at Neal Road and Legacy at Paw Creek, with additional opportunities anticipated over time. Legacy at Neal Road, recently approved by the Charlotte City Council, will designate 10 of its 23 for-sale homes specifically for CMS educators. Five homes at Legacy at Paw Creek will also be set aside.

At Home in CMS is part of the district’s broader efforts to support educator recruitment, retention and overall well-being. The initiative focuses on expanding access to stable, affordable housing by leveraging partnerships like this one to create pathways to homeownership. Through these collaborations, CMS aims to strengthen workforce stability and ensure that educators have every opportunity to put down roots in Charlotte.