Last Friday, and in recognition of Fair Housing Month, more than 350 Realtors® traded their business attire for work boots and gloves as they rolled up their sleeves for the 16th annual Realtors® Care Day, a day of hands-on community service led by the Canopy Housing Foundation.
An initiative with a powerful purpose, Realtors® Care Day (RCD) brings together Realtor® volunteers and community partners to perform critical — and often unaffordable — exterior home repairs and adaptive safety modifications for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable homeowners across Mecklenburg, Iredell, and Haywood Counties.
Over the course of a single day, Realtor® teams tackled everything from repairing steps and handrails to clearing debris, painting exteriors, and rebuilding porches across a number of sites in the Greater Charlotte area, as well as in the Western Region/Haywood County-area.
“At its heart, Realtors® Care Day is about more than just repairs — it’s about restoring dignity, improving safety, and preserving homeownership for our neighbors in need,” said Charisma Southerland, 2025 President of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS. “This is a visible reminder of the power of service and the value Realtors® place on community.”
Since its launch in 2009, RCD has provided much-needed assistance to more than 330 homeowners and nonprofits, generating a financial impact exceeding $1.2 million. Homeowners are identified through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity chapters, the City of Charlotte, and other housing nonprofits. Along with community food and supply drives, this year’s project will focus on 13 home sites in Mecklenburg and Iredell County along with three home sites in Haywood County (Waynesville, NC).
“Realtors® don’t just sell homes — we help protect them,” said Southerland. “Realtors® Care Day allows us to lift up the very communities where we live and work, one repair and one relationship at a time.”
My Take: This annual event, that heralds the beginning of spring, is a true highlight of what it means for our industry to reach out and serve others. The joy in the faces of those who are serving and being served is incredible to behold. I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Caroline Sadler who is pictured above between Charlotte City Council Member Marjorie Molina – District 5 and Mecklenburg County Commission Chair, Mark Jerrell. She embodies the actual living, breathing heart of the Greenville Neighborhood and when I met her, I could just tell she was a special person. She and her husband, Thomas, have been married for 61 years and are creating a meditation garden together while navigating life on a fixed income. Also, I’d like to add a special thank you to Council Member Molina and Chairman Mark Jerrell for taking time out of their busy schedules to stop by and lend their support!
Look for more photos coming to our REBIC social channels.
As we mentioned in a previous edition of 2 for Tuesday, HB 765 passed out of the Housing and Development Committee nearly two weeks ago. With this important step complete, the bill now moves to the House Judiciary 2 Committee where it will experience further consideration before it can advance to the House floor.
With each committee hearing, NCHBA and the NC Realtors® fully expect growing opposition from local governments and other groups that continue to resist the solutions we know will increase housing supply. Despite this, we will continue to work closely with stakeholders to advance sound housing policies that support North Carolina’s continued growth and economic vitality.
My Take: Here’s another chance to put advocacy into action! The aforementioned bill, HB 765, will next be heard in the House Judiciary 2 Committee. It is imperative that you reach out to state legislators to encourage their support for the bill. Contact information for members of the committee is available here.
Here’s the list of those members from our area who serve on the committee:
Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) [email protected] (919)733-5800
Rep. Todd Carver (R-Iredell) [email protected] (919)733-5741
As I mentioned previously although sending an email is good, picking up the phone and placing a call is even better. Here are some thoughts to guide your messaging:
HB 765 offers meaningful reforms that will reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers imposed by local governments—barriers that drive up the cost of housing and delay much-needed development.
By removing these impediments, the bill helps lower housing costs for all North Carolinians, including the essential workers who serve our communities—law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers, and healthcare professionals—who increasingly cannot afford to live where they work.
In addition to supporting higher-density development in appropriate areas, HB 765 promotes more efficient land use, helping to preserve farmland and limit urban sprawl. It also ensures that local land use regulations are consistent with state law, providing greater transparency, consistency, and legal certainty in the development process.
Your support for HB 765 will make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families across our state.
Thank you for your leadership on housing policy and your commitment to improving access to affordable homeownership.