Top Stories for Nov. 20, 2024

A woman riding in an all terrain accessible wheelchair to explore a trail on a fall day.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 2:30 p.m.  

1. A Child’s Life Is a Story Just Beginning: The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed November as National Adoption Awareness Month. Children who have been adopted in the past year and their families will be celebrated on National Adoption Day on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. This year, N.C. Courts will recognize 97 youth who have received decrees between November 2023 and October 2024. The children were all adopted through Mecklenburg County Child, Family, and Adult Services, Youth and Family Services division. Mecklenburg County is looking for families to provide a permanent, loving home to children. To learn more about fostering or adopting a child, visit MeckNC.gov/KIDS or call 704-336-KIDS (5437).  

2. Remembering the Homeless: The Board has proclaimed November as Homelessness Awareness Month. Among the many activities this month that will recognize and address the issue is a vigil hosted by the Homeless Services Network of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The vigil will honor those in the homeless community who have passed away this year. For many of those who have died, it’s the only remembrance of their life. The vigil will take place Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Homeless Resource Center, 618 North College St. in Charlotte.  

3. Grounds for Change: The Board approved a grant of $2.5 million to help build affordable housing in south Charlotte. DreamKey Partners, which will receive the grant, has partnered with the YWCA to develop Grounds for Change on its property on Park Road. Grounds for Change will comprise 80 apartments serving families that earn 30% to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Eight of the units are to be set aside for Mecklenburg County referral for the initial 30-year affordability period. The grant addresses the Board’s housing insecurity priority, which seeks to reduce the number of residents experiencing homelessness and advance stable affordable housing options for all County residents. 

4. Last Chance for HOMES: Friday, Nov. 22 is the deadline for homeowners to apply for a grant that will reduce the amount of property taxes due on their home. The HOMES program, aka Helping Out Mecklenburg homeowners with Economic Support, provides up to $648 to qualifying Mecklenburg County homeowners, and more if they live in Charlotte or Davidson. So far this year, HOMES has awarded more than $3 million in funding to homeowners. New applicants and previous grant recipients are encouraged to complete and submit the easy, one-page application online, by email, or by mail. The application can be found at MeckNC.gov/4HOMES.  

5. This Year in Park and Rec: The Board heard the 2024 annual report from the Park and Recreation Commission. The report addresses economic development; land acquisition; fixing what is broken first and reinvestment; programming for seniors, children, therapeutic and inclusive recreation; master plan revision; potential projects for the 2030 capital improvement plan; residents’ wish lists, and more. 

6. Wheels on the Ground: New all-terrain wheelchairs (ATWs) are now available to residents with disabilities that limit their access to greenways, trails and other outdoor environments. The new ATWs are designed to safely navigate a wide range of terrains and allow residents of all abilities to enjoy Mecklenburg County’s green spaces. Residents can reserve an ATW once a day, Monday through Friday, for up to three hours per day. Reservations can be made by phone or in person at five Park and Recreation facilities.