Bright horizons: Rowan Helping Ministries names new housing complex for retiring director

SALISBURY On Thursday, Rowan Helping Ministries broke ground on the newest addition to its permanent supportive housing complex, the Kyna Grubb First Horizon Neighborhood. The neighborhood is going to be named for the Executive Director of RHM Kyna Grubb, which was a surprise tribute to her as she plans to retire early next year. To be located on the corner of East Council and North Shaver streets, the neighborhood adds five duplexes to the RHM site, increasing the total number of permanent housing accommodations at RHM to 13. The $3. 2 million project is expected to be completed in the next year or so. Pete Bogle from the Bogle Firm is the architect for the complex, and Chad Vriesema from Central Piedmont Builders is the builder for the project. This is the conclusion of their Miracles on the Horizon capital campaign, a six-year construction project that included the renovation of their administrative and transitional housing spaces. This $8. 4 million campaign focused primarily on improving RHM’s facilities for addressing homelessness. “Supportive, stable and affordable housing opportunities are the miracles on the horizon, helping homeless citizens find their pathway home,” Grubb said. “The First Horizon Neighborhood ensures that our county’s homeless citizens will receive priority in accessing permanent supportive housing.” The project was partially funded by a seed donation of $200,000 from First Horizon Bank, hence its name. It was also funded by a Rowan County United Way donation, Rowan County and city of Salisbury grants and private donations. The groundbreaking ceremony included thanks from the RHM board and administrators. It also included testimony from Kyiessha Wall, a resident of permanent supportive housing that greatly benefited from the program. Permanent supportive housing allowed her to provide stability for her children that they had not had before. “Permanent supportive housing gave me the foundation I needed to breathe again. It allowed my children to feel safe, to have a safe space to learn, grow and to heal,” Wall said. “This program doesn’t just provide housing, it provides dignity. It recognizes that every family, no matter their background or circumstances, deserves a fair chance.” Following Wall’s story, there was another sentimental moment when Chris Bradshaw, the former board chair and current board member of Shelter Ministries of Rowan County, delivered a tribute to Grubb’s work on this project and just generally for RHM. “This person has given of herself with her whole heart. She’s left no stones unturned in prayerfully bettering the organization on a daily basis,” Bradshaw said. Alongside Matt Marsh, another former board chair, and Lisa Sechrest, the current board chair, they revealed that the complex was also going to be named for Grubb, which was met with a tearful reaction. “I’m overwhelmed. One, it is such a community effort to do all that happens here, and it’s never just one person. So, I feel incredibly honored,” Grubb said. Following this reveal, board members, community supporters and construction staff ceremonially broke ground on the project. In fact, with so many supporters, they had to break ground twice.
https://www.salisburypost.com/2025/11/22/bright-horizons-rowan-helping-ministries-breaks-ground-on-new-permanent-supportive-housing-complex/