New Nonprofit Aids Housing Crisis
Cooper Charitable Foundation is now providing housing stability grants to Raleighites in need.
by Anna Beth Adcock
“There is housing around us. It’s just not always affordable.” So says John Cooper, founder of the Cooper Charitable Foundation, a recently debuted nonprofit with a mission to provide support to locals who need help to secure housing or remain in their homes via housing stability grants.
The foundation’s operations will be overseen by longtime affordable housing advocate Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, who is positioned to further her passion for positive change via her recently instated role as executive director. “This spoke to me because of the mission,” shares Baldwin. “I’ve been working on affordable housing, housing choice and providing more housing—that’s been my top priority since I’ve served on the city council and as mayor—so this seemed to be a natural progression. And I have to say, I’m really excited.”
The grants—poised to provide more immediate housing assistance—will operate as a means of bridging the gap for those working to meet their expenses but unable to keep up. Essentially, if someone can afford a rent payment of $600 per month and applicable housing options cost $900, the housing stability grant provides that $300 difference. Note: The grants run between one to six months, with each amount given dependent on the situation at hand.
Cooper, also the president of Cooper Tacia General Contracting, has a personal stake in the cause that led to the founding of this benevolent endeavor. Growing up, his mother worked multiple jobs and struggled to get by while experiencing domestic violence, and his grandmother lived on a meager fixed income. And, so, when his grandmother passed, Cooper sought a way to memorialize her, landing on the cause for housing assistance due to the steadiness she offered him during his youth.
“She provided a lot of stability for me in a childhood that was often chaotic,” he recalls. “That was the foundation of me going to college, starting a company and pretty much every achievement I’ve ever had.”
Truly paying kindness forward, Cooper is now funneling a personal contribution to the cause by making the first $100,000 donation—plus covering all overhead expenses—with the foundation’s first public fundraising event slated to take place June 12 at Mulino.
What’s more, the Cooper Charitable Foundation is teaming up with a trio of local nonprofit organizations: Wake Tech’s Fostering Bright Futures program, Oak City Cares and Healing Transitions to assist with verifying circumstances, identifying locals in need and connecting them in a process positioned to fulfill grant requests fast.
“These organizations are working with the people needing the grants—and they know them,” says Cooper. Adds Baldwin: “We are looking to get this streamlined and simple [in partnership with] organizations that do this all the time.”
Fueled by the mission to spark positive generational change in families, Cooper’s inspiration stems from a desire to show those in need there are people out there who care. “To put your hand out and tell someone, ‘You matter’—that’s a lot of encouragement to folks.” Clearly, caring about your community carries power indeed.
