The Raleigh Rescue Mission is set to revolutionize homeless support services with the groundbreaking of The Garden, a new campus in Knightdale designed to address situational homelessness comprehensively. The project, supported by CAHEC New Markets through New Markets Tax Credit investment, represents a significant advancement in providing targeted assistance to vulnerable families.
Currently limited to supporting 60 women and 40 men nightly, the new facility will dramatically increase capacity, offering 101 rooms that can accommodate 300-350 women and children annually. The Garden goes beyond traditional shelter models by integrating a robust support framework aimed at long-term personal and economic stabilization.
The facility's innovative approach includes critical components designed to empower residents. A Children's Learning Center with capacity for 150 children ensures educational continuity, while comprehensive meal services will provide 182,500 meals annually. The project's holistic recovery model, termed the New Life Plan, focuses on job training, mental and physical health services, and financial literacy.
Brian Oxford, Director of Community Capital at CAHEC, emphasized the project's transformative potential, describing The Garden as more than just a shelter—it is a community built to empower women and children seeking a fresh start. The development represents a strategic investment in community resilience and individual potential.
Future expansion plans include transitional housing apartments and a gymnasium, further enhancing the facility's comprehensive support model. Complementary development of adjacent parcels, including market-rate single-family homes and a commercial hub, suggests the potential for creating an integrated, mixed-income neighborhood that promotes social inclusion and economic opportunity.
By leveraging New Markets Tax Credits, the project exemplifies how targeted financial investments can catalyze meaningful social infrastructure, providing pathways out of homelessness and supporting community revitalization.
