Cary, NC – [September 15, 2025] – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cary, NC, (a ONE Wake member institution) has announced a generous gift of over $300,000 to support The Carr Center, a groundbreaking community development that will expand affordable housing and critical services for working families in Wake County.

The Carr Center, located in central Cary on land owned by Greenwood Forest Baptist Church (a ONE Wake member institution), is a $26 million mixed-use project being developed in partnership with The Carying Place, DHIC, the YMCA of the Triangle, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, and the Town of Cary. Once complete, the Carr Center will provide:

  • 11 transitional housing units for homeless working families served by The Carying Place.
  • 51 affordable rental units for households between 30% and 60% of the area median income managed by DHIC, ensuring long-term housing opportunities for workforce families.
  • Greenwood Forest Childcare Center increasing to a full-day program, expanding access to affordable childcare and early education.
  • Youth programming provided by the YMCA.
  • Over 3,000 square feet of community-use program and office space for The Carying Place, allowing for expanded financial literacy education, workforce development, and family support services.

Together, these resources will create a one-of-a-kind campus where families not only access housing but also build financial resilience and long-term stability.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has a long history of advocating for and supporting affordable housing, including its leadership in the Episcopal Housing Ministry, which has championed the creation of housing opportunities for families with limited incomes across the Triangle for decades. This latest gift reflects the parish’s continued commitment to addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing the Cary community today: the severe shortage of affordable housing.

“St. Paul’s believes that secure housing is foundational to the health, dignity, and well-being of every person,” said Kim McCombs, chair of St. Paul’s Affordable Housing Ministry. “Greenwood Forest Baptist Church’s generosity inspired us in dedicating its land to this project, and we are proud to stand alongside them and our nonprofit partners in making the Carr Center a reality. This is about building a stronger, more vibrant Cary where families can thrive.”

The donation from St. Paul’s is one of the most significant commitments to date for the Carr Center, reflecting the growing momentum among community partners, faith institutions, and funders who are working together to ensure that Cary remains a place where working families can live, work, and contribute.

“The Carr Center is a bold response to Wake County’s housing and childcare crisis,” said Leslie Covington, Executive Director of The Carying Place. “We are deeply grateful for St. Paul’s investment, which honors their long legacy of housing advocacy and will make a lasting difference for hundreds of families in the years to come.”

To learn more about the development of The Carr Center, visit: carrcentercary.org. 

 

About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Formed in 1958 and located in the heart of Cary, St. Paul’s was once known as “the little church in the woods.” But today, St. Paul’s enjoys being close to a thriving downtown and is a spiritual home for locals and transplants alike. St. Paul’s is a community where all are welcome. It is an active faith community with over 50 ministries that engage children, youth, and adults.

About Greenwood Forest Baptist Church

Greenwood Forest Baptist Church is an inclusive community of faith in Cary. Their vision is to be a welcoming and diverse community of faith united in Christ. Their purpose is to worship God and to form and equip disciples who selflessly share their resources and provide loving service to all.

About The Carying Place

Founded in 1993, The Carying Place empowers homeless working families with children to achieve long-term stability through transitional housing, financial literacy education, and life-skills training. With a success rate of more than 80%, graduates leave the program with savings, reduced debt, and the tools to maintain stable housing. To date, The Carying Place has served more than 575 families and 1,500 children in Wake County.

 

Contact: 

Katie Bricio
Affordable Housing Ministry
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Cary, North Carolina
(919) 280-4726
[email protected]

Laura Grelck
Director of Development
The Carying Place
(984) 275-2842
[email protected]

Lauren Hayes
Senior Pastor
Greenwood Forest Baptist Church
(919) 467-0481
[email protected]