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OUR HISTORY

A Legacy of Impact

HISTORY

ANCHOR — Affordable North Carolina Housing Organization — was founded in 1968 as Winston-Salem Housing, Inc. in response to the inadequate amount of safe, quality housing in Winston-Salem. In the early days, the organization developed single-family homes and provided downpayment assistance. One of the founding tenets of the organization was to more comprehensively integrate the community, but due to historic redlining, land in the more affluent (predominantly White) parts of town was too expensive for the construction of single-family homes. So Winston-Salem Housing began building multi-family homes. Since that time, the organization has created more than 2,500 units of quality housing for seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals and families in 29 properties across North and South Carolina. 

In 1998, the organization was renamed North Carolina Housing Foundation (NCHF), and a second organization — North Carolina Housing Services & Management Corporation (NCHSM) — was formed to provide comprehensive training and technical support for multi-family properties serving low- to moderate-income seniors and families. In 2002, the scope of NCHSM was expanded to add property management services for properties serving families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. The addition of these services positioned NCHSM as a uniquely qualified leader in the property management industry. Today trained Service Coordinators at 47 managed properties link nearly 1,400 residents to available community services that strengthen their housing stability and improve quality of life. These services often allow seniors to age in place. 

NCHF and NCHSM were founded as and continue to be nonprofit organizations. Although they share the same Board of Directors, they remain distinct legal entities that were rebranded under the umbrella name ANCHOR in 2025. The main office of ANCHOR is in Winston-Salem. Roughly half of the organization’s work has taken place in Forsyth and surrounding counties, though projects have frequently reached beyond this area. 

As it has since its formation in 1968, ANCHOR continues to collaborate with municipalities, private builders, churches, and other nonprofit organizations to develop housing that leverages federal, state, and local tax credits, individual and corporate donations, grants, and other funding streams. The organization’s goal remains steadfast: to build, serve, and manage thriving, multi-unit communities that benefit residents, owners/sponsors, and the surrounding community

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For over 20 years I have lived at Millbrook Apartments. The property is quiet and well maintained, and I feel safe in my surroundings. With the addition of Senior Services and Wake Forest enhancements nearby, I feel that I can enjoy this area even more.”     

 

– Larry Jenkins, resident

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