By Anders J. Hare
The Ada Jenkins Center, long known as a vital community resource in North Mecklenburg, is expanding its impact with the addition of new homebuying education and financial counseling programs, aiming to help low- to moderate-income residents build wealth and long-term stability.
Following the dissolution of Charlotte-based nonprofit Community Link, Ada Jenkins Center CEO Harold Rice Jr. saw an opportunity to carry on its critical asset-building initiatives.
The newly adopted programs include pre- and post-homebuyer counseling, foreclosure prevention, credit and budgeting workshops, and tax preparation services — all tailored to support first-time buyers and those seeking financial stability. Group workshops on estate planning, student loan management, credit repair, and budgeting are scheduled to launch in August.
“Our mission is to create lasting economic stability,” Rice said. “Housing is a critical part of that. If we can help people become homeowners through education and down payment assistance, we’re fulfilling our purpose.”
While the Center welcomes all first-time homebuyers, the focus is on individuals and families earning up to 110% of the area median income.
“If you’re buying a million-dollar home and it’s your first one, you still need homebuyer counseling,” Rice added. “But this program specifically targets low- to moderate-income buyers because that’s where the mortgage products and resources are designed to help most.”
The expansion aligns with Ada Jenkins Center’s long-standing commitment to wraparound services, including a food pantry, youth education programs, and economic mobility support. Rice said the integration of housing counseling complements those offerings, especially for families who have been paying rent reliably but haven’t had the tools to navigate homeownership.
“They can afford a mortgage,” Rice said. “They just need to understand their credit, the process, and gain confidence. Even if they can’t afford to buy in Lake Norman, they might find something in Mecklenburg County that works for them. It’s about building the belief that they can be a homeowner — and that’s how you create generational wealth. Your house is your bank.”
Founded in 1998, the Ada Jenkins Center has evolved from its beginnings as a community outreach center in a segregated Davidson schoolhouse to a central hub for health, education, and economic advancement. Today, the organization helps more than 2,600 residents annually, according to its website.
Yet, despite its picturesque surroundings, the area’s economic disparities often go unnoticed.
In Mecklenburg County, 68% of white households own their homes, compared to just 43% of Black households, highlighting a homeownership gap of roughly 25 percentage points. This disparity underscores the importance of programs like those at the Ada Jenkins Center, which aim to bridge that gap by equipping low- to moderate-income families with tools for financial stability and homeownership.
“Just because people live in Lake Norman doesn’t mean they’re thriving in Lake Norman,” Rice said. “People notice the boats on the lake, but not the guardrails keeping cars from going off the edge. That’s who we are—the guardrail. We’re the primary nonprofit in the area helping families in poverty that you don’t see from the highway.”
Community members and local organizations are encouraged to get involved. The Center offers volunteer opportunities in its food pantry and youth programs, particularly for K-5 students who are one to two grade levels behind. It also hosts NorthPlant Connect, a collaborative network of nonprofits working to prevent service duplication in North Mecklenburg.
“You can refer someone, volunteer, or just come learn about what we do,” Rice said. “We have multiple entry points for individuals and organizations to engage.”
With the launch of its new initiatives, the Ada Jenkins Center reinforces its role not just as a service provider but as a partner in the journey toward economic independence.
“We just want people to believe they can own a home,” Rice said. “If that’s their goal, we’ll walk with them every step of the way.”