Housing Call: November 12, 2024

Organizational Updates

VISTA Opportunities: Housing Counseling Communications: Kingdom CDC in Spring Lake, NC and Prosperity Unlimited, Inc. in Kannapolis, NC are each looking for a Communications VISTA to join them for a year of learning and capacity building services. Housing counseling is a vital part of the housing ecosystem, providing critical guidance for homebuyers and increasing the financial health of their communities.This is a great opportunity to learn more about the housing landscape, strengthen your communication skills, and reduce poverty in North Carolina. Learn more and apply.

Federal Updates

Congress returns today for the lame duck session. They will be busy negotiating a disaster aid package in response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The word around Washington is that they will likely attach another Continuing Resolution to the Disaster package and try to pass a spending bill in February or March 2025 once the new congress convenes.

State Updates

NC House seats flip to give Democrats a better shot at upholding vetoes | WUNC

NC Democrats gained an additional seat in the House in last week’s election. This theoretically breaks up the Republican supermajority in the NCGA and gives Democrats the extra vote needed to uphold a veto from incoming Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. However, Republicans only need 1 Democrat to switch affiliation and they’re back at a supermajority (much like what happened with Rep. Tricia Cotham switching party affiliations earlier this year).

Housing Bond Recap: Three local bond measures in Asheville ($20M), Chapel Hill ($15M), and Charlotte ($100M) will collectively invest $135 million in affordable housing development. Cary’s $30M housing bond measure did not pass.

Interested in reading up on how some of the other big housing measures fared across the US last Tuesday? Check out this summary from CoStar: Here are six notable housing-related measures voters decided this week

Helene Updates

Resources to support recovery from Hurricane Helene – database available here: https://tinyurl.com/NCHC4WNC.
Know of other critical recovery resources? Submit them to our database by filling out this form: https://tinyurl.com/WNCResourcesNCHC OR by emailing us at info@nchousing.org
NCORR, FEMA and the CDC Foundation are hiring for hurricane recovery positions in WNC:

NCORR

Disaster Case Manager (closes 11/14)
Disaster Case Management Navigator (closes 11/19)
Disaster Case Management Team Lead (closes 11/19)

FEMA

Recovery Planning Coordinator (closes 11/13)
FEMA is hiring in Asheville, Durham, Hickory and Raleigh to support community recovery. Applications are being accepted online. To see open positions and apply, visit gov, type keywords “FEMA, Local Hire” and enter the location as “North Carolina.”

CDC Foundation

Evictions concern – After Helene damaged thousands of homes, renters are still evicted | WHQR
NCDHHS: Shelter and Housing Assistance. “Multi-Agency Shelter Transition Teams (MASTT) are working in four shelters across Buncombe, Yancey, and Transylvania counties to create short- and long-term housing plans. The American Red Cross currently has 7 shelters for people and their pets. View current open shelter locations. Back @ Home North Carolina Program: Back@Home offers housing navigation, case management, rental, and utility assistance in 26 impacted counties.”
Next week,the NC General Assembly Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery Committee will meet to discuss a third round of disaster aid funding: November 18, 1:00 PM, 300 N Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27603. Learn more: https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/NonStanding/152.
NC Budget and Tax Center: Guidance has been provided to local governments in disaster affected areas that Local Fiscal Recovery Funds can be obligated to respond to the disaster. This means that millions of dollars in communities could be available in your community for priorities like rental assistance, grants to child care providers and more. Reach out to local leaders if you see there are funds not obligated in a county and ask if they would consider funding the rebuilding effort from Helene.
The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is now extended through January 7, 2025. Legal Aid of NC, Pisgah Legal, and Emergency Legal Responders offer disaster legal services programs to assist with applications and appeals to FEMA, for homeowners and rentals dealing with damage and displacement, and for fraud support.

Events

[webinar] Preservation: An Essential Response to the Housing Affordability Challenge | Bipartisan Policy Center, November 19, 1 p.m.
[webinar] Opportunities to Advance Equitable Transit-Oriented Development that Supports Affordable Housing Production | HUD Office of Policy, Development, & Research, November 20, 10 a.m. – noon
[webinar] Strengthening Renters’ Rights: Junk Fees Webinar | National Low Income Housing Coalition & the National Consumer Law Center, November 20, 2 -3:30 p.m.
Save the Date: National Low Income Housing Policy Forum March 24-27, 2025 in Washington, D.C.