Federal updates
- The LIFELINE Act (R. 7078) has several new sponsors including Congressman Ted Budd who represents NC’s 13th District. He and U.S. Representative David Rouzer are the two Republicans co-sponsoring the bill.
- Some Democrats in the Senate are turning attention back to a spending package deal that would be different from Build Back Better and smaller, but may include some of the signature elements that everyone in the party agrees on. Topline priorities would be to fight inflation, raise taxes and address climate change and drug prices. Leadership hopes to begin more serious talks this spring, but there is skepticism from members about the prospects of a package.
- Congress is considering a standalone COVID-19 relief bill after aid was pulled out of the budget a few weeks ago. Lawmakers seem to be nearing an agreement for a scaled-back amount of $10 billion and hope to pass it before a two-week recess later this month, but timing will be tight.
- Votes on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination are scheduled in the Senate this week. Three Republican Senators have announced that they will support her nomination, which makes it likely that she’ll be confirmed.
State updates
- The NC Housing Finance Agency awarded $11 million for home rehabilitation and accessibility modifications in 32 North Carolina counties through the Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool (ESFRLP). $6.32 million will provide comprehensive rehabilitation to at least 117 homes through forgivable loans. An incentive pool of $4.68 million will assist an additional 87 homes.
- Construction is scheduled to start on King’s Ridge Apartments, a 100-unit development aimed at ending homelessness in Raleigh. Residents of King’s Ridge will have access to supportive services like case management, physical and mental healthcare, employment coaching, and childcare. The project is set to open in fall 2023: Construction to Start on King’s Ridge Affordable Apartment Complex | Independent Weekly
- The City of Raleigh awarded $10 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to 13 local nonprofits. The funding can be used for a range of purposes and several housing providers received awards, including Passage Home, DHIC, Salvation Army: $10M awarded to Raleigh nonprofits from American Rescue Plan funds | CBS 17
- A 100% affordable apartment complex, called Fairhaven Summit, is planned for Asheville on Sweeten Creek Road. The development will have 77 units for rent households earning between 30-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI): Sweeten Creek Road apartments aim for 100% affordability | Citizen Times
Reports/articles/events
- TODAY Virtual Event: HUD Ceremony in Celebration of National Fair Housing Month (April), Tuesday, 4/5 @ 2pm
- President Biden’s FY 2023 Budget & What it Means for Affordable Housing & Community Development | Housing Advisory Group
- New Survey Finds Many Renters Are Concerned About The Impact Of Home On Health | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
- NY State bill seeks to eliminate racial restrictions in deeds | The Real Deal
- Cities Give Housing Technology a Wary Reappraisal | CityLab
- Places of Worship Tackle the Affordable Housing Shortage | Next City
- NC rent up 20 percent over past year, higher than national average | ABC 11
- OPED As NC cities grow, suburbs sprawl. In Durham, rural residents are pushing back | News & Observer
- Poverty, barriers to opportunity loom large for women as NC emerges from the pandemic | NC Policy Watch
- Hot housing market, increasing taxes push out some southeast Raleigh residents | WRAL
- What the $4B VinFast plant means for the Triangle – and the state | WRAL TechWire
