Blue Haven Communities, a Chief Cares Mission
Founded by Eric and Katherine Church, powered by community.
Chief Cares is the umbrella brand of Eric and Katherine Church’s diverse philanthropic portfolio. Blue Haven Communities, A Chief Cares Mission, their most ambitious and generous philanthropic endeavor to date, is the 501(c)(3) designated to house, lead and expand the recovery work in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Chief Cares exists to serve those in need and strengthen communities through compassion and action.
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, that mission took on new urgency.
The devastation was staggering. Entire neighborhoods were leveled. Families were displaced. And yet, through it all, people stood up. Neighbors, friends, and community leaders reached out to do what they could—some gripped chainsaws to clear the wreckage, others held the hurting through overwhelming grief.
In the months that followed, we saw that rebuilding would take more than short-term aid. It would require a bold, long-term solution—one grounded in dignity, stability, and staying power.
That’s when Blue Haven was born.
Rebuilding communities starts with the people who serve them.
The teachers. The nurses. The firefighters and first responders.
These pillars of the community are the heartbeat of their hometowns. But too often, crisis forces them to leave the very communities they’ve helped build.
Blue Haven stepped in with a clear answer: build homes that help them stay.
Blue Haven provides mortgage-free, rent-free homes to the individuals and families who make communities strong.
Blue Haven Avery, our first neighborhood located in the heart of Western North Carolina, is the beginning of what we hope becomes a nationwide model for recovery and resilience.
Blue Haven is dedicated to strengthening small towns across America by providing accessible, stable housing to exceptional community servants.
We empower those who dedicate their lives to others by giving them a path to homeownership in the places they love.
We believe in providing a hand up—honoring daily acts of service with long-term opportunity.
This is more than housing—it's a roadmap for long-term resilience.
When we invest in the people who hold a community together, everyone benefits. Families put down roots. Schools thrive. Health systems grow stronger. The next generation sees a future worth staying for.
Blue Haven is building more than homes—we’re building a replicable, scalable model to serve small towns across the country. This is just the beginning.
Be part of the story we're building
Blue Haven is made possible by generous partners, donors, and neighbors who believe in local impact and long-term resilience—right here in the Blue Ridge and beyond.