Vicky Mitchener, owner of Dickens Mitchener, has been a driving force in Charlotte's residential real estate market for more than 30 years. It's no surprise she's leading the charge for that community to give back to Charlotte's homeless population.
Mitchener said she got the idea for the Homeowners Impact Fund from a group of female philanthropists who've been raising money in Charlotte for more than 20 years. Mitchener served on their board when the Women's Impact Fund was founded in 2003 with 400 women donating $1,000 each to spearhead projects around town. That fund has raised more than $8 million. Mitchener wanted to bring something similar to Charlotte’s real estate community.
“As the real estate market got stronger, our homeless population was getting more impacted," Mitchener says. "I've watched it in D.C., Austin, and L.A., where I have children. Then I started seeing tent cities in Charlotte. I thought, 'This [industry] is what has made my career and so many others’ net worth increase in Charlotte. Why don't we get together and do a similar concept to the Women's Impact Fund where we give back to the homeless community?’”
In January 2020, she suggested encouraging every party in Charlotte's real estate transactions donate $10 toward combating homelessness, including realtors, attorneys, insurance agents, and moving companies.
“When you multiply $10 by the number of transactions in our city, we should be able to raise $3 million,” she says.
Then COVID hit, bringing closings to a halt. The Homeowners Impact Fund relied on donations from corporate partners instead. This year its board decided to host an event for guests from all aspects of Charlotte real estate. Nearly 200 builders, lenders, lawyers, real estate professionals and other vendors raised $113,000 Dec. 3 at Myers Park Country Club. Proceeds went to Roof Above, Safe Alliance, Samaritan House, the Harvest Center of Charlotte and others. They set a goal for next year of raising $200,000.
“As the real estate market got stronger, our homeless population was getting more impacted."