CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority Monday to expand the number of teachers living on the city’s West Side.
The program, Project West Neighborhood Living, provides police officers with a forgivable loan of up to $50,000 for purchasing a home in CURA’s West Side zone. Additional funds can be spent on making related purchases or repairs to that structure. People have to live in the home for at least 10 years.
After council’s vote Monday, teachers of Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School also qualify for the program.
“CURA is looking at teachers to be part of this project because they are in the CURA area, Mary C. Snow is in the CURA area and Mary C. Snow has had a turnover of teachers because they can’t find housing,” Councilwoman Mary Jean Davis said. “This is a way to help teachers not only find housing near the school, but also a way to help them fund it.”
Councilman Jack Harrison said the West Side has its share of housing problems.
“There’s a high degree of rentals there. This project encourages home ownership and also it creates a police presence there,” he said.