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Housing Call: September 24, 2024

Interview with Josh Walker

Josh Walker, LCMHCS – Olmstead Housing Director
Health Equity Portfolio / Office of the Secretary
NC Department of Health and Human Services

Bio/Highlights

Josh has a combined 19 years experience in Human Services, with the last 7 years in housing and work with Transitions to Community Living and Olmstead. He holds a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling, and has been a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor since 2009. Previously, he served as a Clinical Director at a community based CABHA, overseeing behavioral based enhanced services in the Medicaid area and as the Transitions to Community Living Lead and Director at Eastpointe Managed Care Organization. He joined NCDHHS Office of the Secretary in June of 2023 and currently serves as the Olmstead Housing Director. Josh believes that Housing is Healthcare and that through housing first principles, individuals should have choice where they live, work, and play.

Questions

Could you tell us a bit about your role at DHHS, and an overview of the process for developing this Strategic Housing Plan that was released last month?

  • Who was involved in creating the plan? We had many stakeholders involved and engaged from the very beginning of the plan.  We completed an environmental survey to get the lay of the land and greatly benefitted from feedback from state partners, TAC (technical assistance collaborative), Continuums of Care, Homeless programs, LME/MCOs, stakeholders, and advocates.
  • What are the goals of this plan?  There are five overarching goal areas:  Development, non-development (increasing access to housing), services, partnerships, and coordination.
  • Why does this plan matter? t matters for multiple reason:

1) It will provide a framework to consistently and cohesively talk about housing in NC, which is especially important when talking with politicians or people in authority; 

2) It will hold NC accountable for steps we say we are going to achieve and accomplish in the housing space over the next 5 years; and 

3) It will also form the backbone of partnership and collaborations between stakeholders.

  • How can others get involved or contribute to the plan’s implementation? We have the 5 workgroups addressing the 5 goal areas of the plan and these are currently meeting.  If anyone is interested in joining a group, they can email Josh Walker at josh.walker@dhhs.nc.gov and I will coordinate with the workgroup leads regarding additional members.  We want a good representation but we also need the workgroups to be small enough and nimble enough to address the tasks in front of us and avoid talking in circles.  Quarterly, DHHS will host a Housing Leadership Committee call, and both the committee and the public are invited for that.  A link will be made available on the state website:  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/priority-goals/health-equity-portfolio/nc-strategic-housing-plan

Federal Updates

  • Continuing resolution expected to pass by end of month Congressional leaders from both parties worked through the weekend on a new continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded past September 30. CRs are a routine stopgap to keep the government running when Congress doesn’t approve a year-long spending bill by the first day of the fiscal year on October 1. The current proposed CR keeps funding at current levels through December 20 – the last day of the year that Congress is in session. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) introduced the bill in the house yesterday and is expected to bring it to a vote as early as tomorrow, with the Senate likely to vote soon after. Both sides are motivated to avoid a partial shutdown, so we will likely see something passed within the week.
  • HUD Expands Housing Counseling Services to More Americans | Last week, HUD posted the Modernizing the Delivery of Housing Counseling Services final rule in the Federal Register. This change allows HUD-approved housing counseling agencies more flexibility in how they engage with and educate with homebuyers and renters. In addition to meeting in-person, housing counselors can now do virtual meetings and phonecalls. This rule is a win for expanding access to housing counseling for people who have difficulty obtaining in-person services, whether that be due to linguistic, physical, geographic or other barriers such as transportation and childcare costs.

State & Local Updates

  • Charlotte church and developer advance affordable housing project; city hungers for more A recent article in the Charlotte Observer discusses a planned partnership between Charlotte-based nonprofit affordable housing developer DreamKey Partners and Newell Presbyterian Church. If an upcoming rezoning hearing is successful, the Church plans to sell DreamKey about 4 acres of their 10-acre property for the development of 54 single-family townhomes, which will be sold to families earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income (about $85K for a family of 4). Earlier this year, the City of Charlotte formed their Faith in Housing Initiative and joined an ongoing multi-faith network of communities to host workshops on the topic of connecting faith congregations with affordable housing developers to build housing.
  • Raleigh is set to begin the first phase of a new pilot to combat homelessness next month Since 2020, unsheltered homelessness in Wake County has doubled. To address this, Raleigh is launching the two-year “Bringing Neighbors Home” pilot program to provide people experiencing homelessness with permanent housing and voluntary supportive services for 45 households exiting homelessness.
  • Raleigh, Wake County Invest in Hundreds of New Affordable Rental Units Last week, Raleigh and Wake County officials voted unanimously to approve funding requests for 3 affordable housing developments in Raleigh. They will provide a combined $32.2 million in the form of low interest loans to aid the financing of 3 projects. Once complete, these communities will provide an additional 454 units of affordable rental housing for people earning between 20-70% AMI. Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2025.

Reports & Resources 

Events

Course Cost: $260. Registration closes tomorrow, September 25, 2024 

This interactive in-person seminar is designed for elected and appointed officials (including managers and department heads) from local governments who are setting strategic direction around affordable housing. The seminar will focus on local government support and public-private partnerships for workforce residential housing.

 What You’ll Learn:

  • Strategic approaches to affordable housing
  • Affordable housing tools and financing mechanisms
  • How to assess local housing needs
  • Case studies and exercises
  • Immediate next steps
  • Our State, Our Homes: Partnering to Address Housing Needs in North Carolina Applicant Information Session | October 9 at 12 p.m. Register here.
  • Housing for All: A Community Tour | Brevard /Transylvania Housing Coalition, October 10 from 9:30 am to 2 pm. Free but registration is required.
    • In recognition of World Homelessness Day 2024, the Transylvania County community is invited to participate in Housing For All: A Community Tour.This immersive event offers a unique opportunity to explore how local organizations provide essential housing support, from temporary shelter to long-term solutions for residents facing housing insecurity.

In the News

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Bonus Episode: Heirs Property Unlocked: Part 2

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