Mooresville Board Advances Framework for Supportive Housing

A tiny white and red house with a house key (Tierra Mallorca/UnSplash)

The Mooresville Board of Commissioners approved a text amendment to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) on Monday that creates a new land use category for supportive housing development and establishes a regulatory framework for future transitional housing proposals.

The public hearing centered around a request from Amy DeCaron, executive director at Hope of Mooresville (HOMe), to amend the UDO by adjusting the current definition and development standards for Supportive Housing Development for multi-family. The proposal aligns with the Town’s strategic priority of individuals and community economic vitality and its goal of expanding housing, employment and educational opportunities that support long-term economic sustainability. 

Under the approved amendment, supportive housing developments are defined as multifamily residential communities that integrate on-site supportive services designed to help residents achieve and maintain stable housing while improving the quality of life. Qualified and approved residents would receive up to 24 months of support with the focus on long-term housing and self sufficiency.  Services may include counseling, case management, job training, educational program, financial coaching, and other resident-focused assistance. 

The proposal previously received unanimous support from the Mooresville Planning Board, which was presented on May 26, 2026. 

During the presentation, DeCaron emphasized that HOMe Today is seeking only a policy framework rather than approval for a specific development. Since opening in December 2017, HOMe Today has served 157 women and children, providing more than 20,000 nights of housing. The organization currently operates two homes serving 16 women and children each day. According to the organization, 75% of participants graduate from the program, while 100% reunite with their families and secure employment or receive disability benefits upon graduation. 

“HOMe is not a homeless shelter, not emergency housing, not an unsupervised apartment complex, not a high-density housing development, and not tied to a specific property currently,” said DeCaron. 

She noted that any future development would require its own public review and approval process, including site identification, community engagement and additional town approvals. 

Following the presentation and public heating, the Board of Commissioners approved the UDO text amendment, establishing a framework that allows future supportive housing proposals to be considered under clear, defined standards while preserving all required public review and approval processes.