Camber Foundation Explores Approaches to Address Housing in Eastern NC

Camber Foundation’s commitment to ongoing learning recognizes that housing needs attention. It touches all of the work of the Foundation, even if it’s not expressly identified in the list of funding priorities. Recent investments serve to help Camber explore the housing landscape to understand the need and the opportunities and to identify those who are working on the community-driven solutions to address housing in Eastern North Carolina.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 30 percent of North Carolina households either struggle to afford their homes or are living in substandard and/or overcrowded housing, and for low- and moderate-income households, the share of households with housing needs jumps to 85 percent. Compounding the challenge, Eastern North Carolina faces unique pressures – from hurricane damage that has destroyed thousands of homes to tourism-driven housing shortages that price out year-round residents.

“Housing has become a growing concern throughout Eastern North Carolina, affecting everything from where families can afford to live to whether young people can stay in their hometowns,” said President and CEO, Leslie Ann Jackson. “We’re intentionally exploring diverse housing solutions to learn how we can best serve this critical need and identify our most effective grantmaking opportunities.”

In 2025,  Carolina Across 100 launched the “Our State, Our Homes” initiative to address a critical challenge: housing affordability and accessibility, and the Foundation is backing the initiative with a $100,00 grant. The investment supports Carolina Across 100’s model of engaging local communities to strategize solutions for affordable housing in their own regions. Through cross-sector teams across the state, the initiative brings together diverse stakeholders to learn together from university staff, relevant experts, and each other, all working toward developing locally-led visions into action plans tailored to their unique and local needs.

In addition to its support of Our State, Our Homes, Camber Foundation is making a $75,000 investment in regional housing solutions, investing $25,00 grants to each of three nonprofit organizations:

East Carolina Community Development (ECCDI)

This organization develops and preserves affordable housing while addressing key social and economic challenges in Eastern North Carolina. By reducing housing stress and instability, ECCDI promotes healthier communities and improves quality of life.

Eden Village

Based in Wilmington, this organization bridges the gap between people with disabilities and the resources available in the community. They provide stable, permanent housing in a supportive community, including a Community Center that engages volunteers to teach skills, provide meals and medical support, and build relationships.

Rebuilding Together Pitt County

This organization serves Pitt and Greene Counties, providing critical home repair, accessibility modifications, and safety upgrades for low-income homeowners. They serve the elderly, people living with disabilities, veterans, and multi-generational families in need of help maintaining their homes. These repairs make it safer and healthier for the residents to live.

These investments reflect Camber Foundation’s commitment to supporting locally-driven solutions that address issues from multiple angles. By funding a variety of approaches to address housing, Camber’s goal is to explore and learn which methods may be best suited for its grantmaking strategy.

“It’s inspiring to see how different communities are addressing housing challenges in ways that reflect their unique strengths and circumstances,” said Dr. Tyran Hill, Camber Foundation Network Officer. “Housing touches every aspect of community life, like economic opportunity, education, and health. By supporting local leaders and organizations who understand these connections, we’re helping create comprehensive solutions.”

As Eastern North Carolina’s response to the affordable housing crisis continues to evolve, Camber Foundation will grow along with it, fostering partnerships that turn local vision into lasting impact. Through ongoing collaboration with community leaders and organizations, the Foundation will help ensure that innovative housing solutions continue to emerge – solutions that don’t just address immediate needs, but strengthen the fabric of communities for generations to come.

Photo credit: Rebuilding Together Pitt County