CAH's first project proved to the community that this new housing development organization could meet the challenge. The two-bedroom duplexes contain 780 square feet of living space and are designed to be visually compatible with the historic nature of the community. Exterior features, such as period wood trim and specific paint colors, mimic homes in the historic district. The homes are prewired for telephone and cable TV access, thereby saving residents the cost of installing such amenities. The design of the units places the kitchen in the center of the living area.
Adults working in the kitchen can watch the children anywhere in the house except the bedrooms.
A specially reinforced balcony, also visible from the kitchen, is historically accurate in appearance and provides a safe outdoor play area for small children. Innovative Fundraising Funding for CAH projects comes from a variety of sources including HUD's HOME and CDBG programs, the city of Charleston, the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund, the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Federal Home Loan Bank's Affordable Housing Program, local banks, foundations and private fundraising. Although happy about its successes, CAH recognized the need to develop a base of private funding for their work. CAH has been instrumental in developing a friendly climate for low-income housing groups. Training Events Community Connections has added a handy Conference Calendar to its Web site.