Many individuals and families in Raleigh who are now homeless will soon have the opportunity to own a place they can call home. The project, called "King’s Ridge," will soon break ground – with plans to accept residents next year.

It’s a new approach to affordable and stable housing. The wooded area on Michael J. Smith road across from Holly Hill Hospital will soon be transformed into a $13.7 million dollar apartment complex serving many who are currently homeless.

From 2009 to 2015, Wake County lost about 5,000 apartments for households earning less than $39,000, according to Wake County’s affordable housing plan of 2017.

Other WRAL Top Stories

King’s Ridge will be a mix of 100 apartments serving both single adults and families.

"The goal is to help them stay housed. It is permanent, supportive housing, so that means as long as they pay the rent and they’re good neighbors, they can stay as long as they need to," explained Molly Painter, the chair of the King’s Ridge Campaign which now partners with CASA of Raleigh.

The recent Raleigh city housing bond, along with $8 million dollars from the private sector and charitable foundations, made it all possible to rescue many individuals and families from unstable living conditions.

"They are so desperate to be housed that they will pay their full paycheck for a monthly check in rent," said Painter.

But under those circumstances, many quickly end up back on the streets.

Erin Yates, director of King’s Ridge, said, "Our community has come together to say we are done allowing people to sleep outside."

Modeled after Moore’s Place in Charlotte, King’s Ridge is focused on permanent housing.

"We are definitely focusing on individuals with disabilities and people who are experiencing homelessness," said Casa’s CEO Everett McElveen.

The plan requires that residents pay a third of their income on rent. Case managers are close by to help them.

"One of the really special, unique things about King’s is that we’ll have a lot of services on site," said Yates. "We want to provide a home that will change lives for generations to come."

Residents will receive help with medical care, child care and work force development. Medical care and other community services are within walking distance of King’s Ridge.

Painter and CASA plan to protect as much of the natural surroundings in the heavily wooded area as possible. That was a primary interest of Painter’s.

She "wants them to experience nature as a healing force," and not as a place to sleep.

The official ground-breaking event for Kings Ridge is Tuesday, March 29 at the wooded site on Michael J. Smith lane close to Holly Hill Hospital.