Housing Call: August 6, 2024 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

Organizational Updates

Nominations are now open for the 2024 NC Housing Coalition Awards! Each year we recognize housing advocates across the state at our Annual Breakfast during the NC Affordable Housing Conference (September 5-6). If you or someone you know has gone above and beyond to advocate for affordable housing in North Carolina, nominate them today! The deadline to submit has been extended to Friday, August 9, 2024!

Early bird registration for our Housing Conference also closes this Friday – August 9, 2024! Register here.

Don’t forget we are hosting a Mid-Year Housing Policy Update Webinar this Thursday August 8, 2024 from 10:00am to 11:30am via ZOOM. You can register by clicking this link here.

Federal Updates

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 did not pass the Senate last week when it was up for a vote on Thursday – 8/1/2024. However, the reasons for it not passing were not tied to the affordable housing provisions in the bill and further makes the case for the major opportunity that the upcoming tax policy superbowl – or the 2025 tax package – gives us to advocate for strengthening the housing credit. We have until October 15, 2024 to continue to strengthen this push!

Advocacy Opportunity: Tax Policy Superbowl: Call for Strengthening the Housing Credit

We encourage you to write a letter describing the importance of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to your work and your community, supporting the various provisions of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA H.R.3238), and highlighting how strengthening the Housing Credit would help those you serve.

Ways to Submit your Letter

You can submit your letter through this form, and the team at NCHC will submit it for you.

No changes will be made, the committee will still see the letter as coming from you and/or your organization.
Please make sure to place your letter on your company letterhead.
Make sure to enter your contact information correctly.

If you would prefer to email your letter directly, you may email RepublicanTaxTeams@mail.house.gov. Make sure to click here for instructions on how to structure your email to ensure that your comments are selected. Letters with incomplete information will not be accepted.

For more details about this campaign, check out our post here.

Landmark Bill to Construct and Preserve 3M Affordable Housing Units Reintroduced in Congress | NLIHC

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Raphael Warnock, and Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver reintroduced the American Housing and Economic Mobility (AHEM) Act last week in the House and Senate. The bill calls for large-scale investments to affordable units over the next 10 years. An independent analysis by Moody’s Analytics projects that bill’s investments would produce 3 million units of affordable housing and bring down rents for low and middle income families by approximately 10%. To learn more, check out the summary of American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2024 linked in the call notes.

State & Local Updates

Rental regulations, cryptocurrency and speed limits: NC House overrides three vetoes Last week in Raleigh, the House overrode 3 of the Governor’s vetoes, including one that would preempt local governments’ authority to enact Source of Income protections at the local level. Without source of income protections, landlords are not legally required to accept housing vouchers. All current Source of Income protections at the local level will still be protected because they are tied to housing financed in part by public dollars.

Zero Returns to Homelessness Cohort

The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and its partners at the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center have begun accepting applications for the next Zero Returns to Homelessness Cohort. Applications are due by 9 pm ET on August 12.

Zero Returns to Homelessness is a multi-agency effort designed to support states and communities as they work to prevent and end homelessness for people returning from incarceration. The Zero Returns to Homelessness Cohort will provide up to six state teams with extensive and free technical assistance support focused on solidifying long-term reentry housing plans, leveraging community leaders and resources, collaboration across state and local systems, and achieving a real, concrete expansion in the amount of housing available to people in reentry.

CSH and CSG are looking for applicants with established or emerging system-level partnerships across the criminal justice, housing, homeless, and behavioral health systems to join a national cohort of state teams. Interested applicants must submit their applications no later than 9 pm ET on Monday, August 12^th.

Learn more and apply to join here. Questions can be directed to Kanani Medeiros, associate director for justice systems transformation at the Corporation for Supportive Housing at steven.medeiros@csh.org.

Recovery Housing Program Substantial Amendment for FY24 and 2023 Recovery Housing Program Performance Report | NC Commerce

The State of North Carolina is currently seeking comments on the Recovery Housing Program (RHP) Substantial Amendment for Fiscal Year 2024 and the 2023 RHP Performance Report. The RHP is a pilot program that provides formula grant funds to assist individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder with stable, transitional housing while on the path to self-sufficiency.

The Dept. of Commerce invites your comments on these draft documents, and the comment period will be open through August 13, 2024. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., August 13, 2024 and can be made via email to valerie.fegans@commerce.nc.gov, by fax to (919) 715-0567, or postal mailed to Shycole Simpson-Carter, Attn: Public Comment, Rural Economic Development Division 4346 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4346. All mailed comments must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, August 13, 2024. In addition, a public hearing will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 10:00 am EST to 11:00 am EST.

Asheville’s Homelessness board will likely dissolve as work of new CoC begins In an expected vote, Asheville dissolved its Homelessness Initiative Advisory Committee board in late July as efforts are consolidated through the newly restructured Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, which heavily emphasizes collaboration and community input. This decision to restructure the system governance model was prompted by recommendations solicited from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Their number one priority recommendation was to move the board out from under City and County government. The new CoC is composed of over 330 individual and organizational members with an interest in better understanding and addressing homelessness, and a board elected by the members.
Seeking Solutions: Mecklenburg County DA reviewing SC homeless court program as number of unhoused people rises Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriwether recently visited Rock Hill, SC to learn more about voluntary court programs for people experiencing homelessness and how they might be adapted to fit within the NC Court system. In Rock Hill, proceedings are held once a month for people experiencing homelessness to potentially have fines dismissed and nonviolent crimes wiped from their record if they can show they are seeking treatment and working to transition out of homelessness.
Largest U.S. Latino organization awards money to Durham land trust for new eco-friendly housing The Durham Community Land Trust was recently named as one of 9 finalists for a grant to support Latino homeownership. The Land Trust was awarded $75K for their project proposal, EcoGrace Durham. The project will begin in mid-2025 and will consist of 7 4-bedroom houses in Durham’s Southside, Hayti, and East Durham neighborhoods.
Dare and Hyde counties move to build more teacher housing units | Island Free Press The Outer Banks Community Foundation recently funded 2 projects to help the Hyde and Dare county school systems recruit and retain teachers through affordable housing. On Ocracoke Island, the Hyde County Education Foundation is renovating a former daycare into apartments for 10 teachers. The Dare Education Foundation, which has successfully built 36 affordable units for teachers, plans to add an additional 8 units. Even so, Dare Education Foundation says the waitlist for teacher housing at any given time is over 30 people. Both projects are also funded by an interest-free loan program for teacher housing through SECU.

Events

Land of Sky Regional Council’s 2nd Annual WNC Regional Housing Forum | August 9, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Registration $20. Flat Rock, NC

the 2024 WNC Regional Housing Forum! Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities focused on housing in the Western North Carolina region. This year we are focusing on resident retention strategies (keeping current residents in their homes), community development, and opportunities for small and rural communities. (Agenda distributed shortly)

The event will take place on Friday, Aug 09, starting at 9 AM (doors at 8:30) at the Blue Ridge Conference Hall in Flat Rock. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with industry professionals and learn about the latest trends in housing. See you there!

[webinar] State of Homelessness Webinar: A Path Forward | National Alliance to End Homelessness, August 6, 1 p.m.
[webinar] Our Places of Impact: Building Trust with Communities and Local Governments | HUD, August 14 1 – 2 p.m.
2024 NC Affordable Housing Conference | September 5-6 at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Second Annual NCWAHN Luncheon | September 6, 1 – 2:30 p.m. at Jiddi (rhymes with “city”) Space in downtown Raleigh. Cost: $25
- The luncheon will follow the close of the NC Affordable Housing Conference and provide an excellent opportunity to connect women working in affordable housing from across the state.Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Shinica Thomas will be this year’s keynote speaker.
APA – NC Fall Conference, October 16-18, Greenville, NC

Reports & Resources

State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition | National Alliance to End Homelessness
Reducing Housing Burdens While Creating a Longer-Term Affordable Housing Solution | Center for American Progress
Project-Based Vouchers: Lessons from the Past to Guide Future Policy | Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
Affordable Housing Implementation Guide: Creating a Public Funding Strategy to Maximize Housing Production | HUD
- This guide is a six-step process for the development of a coordinated public funding strategy for affordable housing. The guide gives practical steps on bringing together public resources and stakeholder perspectives to eliminate barriers to affordable housing development and expand the pool of affordable housing developers.