More than a year ago, William Pumphrey was part of a choir that celebrated the start of construction on an apartment building to serve the chronically homeless.

He didn't realize then that he was looking at his future home.

Early last week, Pumphrey learned he had earned a spot at the Moore Place apartments. Then he saw the second-floor apartment he'll move into early next month.

The news, the 53-year-old said, brought him to his knees.

On Sunday, Pumphrey and the Voices of Love choir were among hundreds of people marking the grand opening of Moore Place, an apartment building for 85 people off North Graham Street.

The $10 million facility was funded primarily with privately raised funds, including gifts from corporate and philanthropic foundations, the Charlotte Housing Authority, more than 50 local congregations and the John and Pat Moore family. The effort was led by Charlotte's Urban Ministry Center. The first eight residents will move in this week, and officials expect the complex to be full by the end of April.

Plans already are under way to add 35 more apartment units on the property, said Caroline Chambre, director of Urban Ministry Center's HousingWorks program.

In recent years, the Urban Ministry has piloted another housing program that offers people who have been homeless a permanent place to stay in sites scattered across Charlotte.

But Moore Place is considered a bigger shift in how the city has addressed the issue of people who are chronically homeless.

Residents will pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. The apartment facility will have on-site case management and 24-hour security.

Moore Place also will offer residents services such as job training, instruction on how to manage their money and counseling. A full-time nurse and part-time physician also will offer health care at the site.

Chambre said the goal is to help residents "go from a life of chaos to a life of normalcy." She described the effort as not being extraordinary; rather, a way to "create the ordinary" in residents' lives.

Pumphrey, who has been homeless on and off for the past 12 years, said Sunday he's not sure he'll ever be able to overcome all of the issues he's faced in recent years.

But he thinks the services provided by Moore Place will be immensely important for him and others.

"I feel taken care of, and I haven't even moved in yet," he said.

Charlotte has an estimated 6,500 people who are homeless. About 10 percent are considered chronic cases, meaning mental illness or addiction prevents them from finding housing through traditional programs such as shelters.

Advocates have said providing housing and other services for the homeless can save millions because it could cut down on those individuals going to "de-facto shelters" in jails or emergency rooms.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg leaders approved a "10-year Plan to End Homelessness" six years ago to create more permanent housing such as Moore Place.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx on Sunday praised efforts to complete Moore Place, noting challenges such as a fight over where to put the apartments. But he said even more housing facilities are needed.

He urged attendees at the grand opening event to pay attention to upcoming discussions among the City Council about housing bonds and a locational policy on where to put affordable housing.

Foxx said the community needs to find a way to create additional housing.

"We don't just need Moore Place," he said. "We need more places."