Federal updates
- Democrats are signaling plans to revive a new version of President Biden’s tax and social spending package after Congress returns from recess next week. While timing is tight to accomplish something of this scale prior to November, Democrats want a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections, where races are looking tight. There’s no specific deadline to pass a bill at this point, but some Senators are hoping for a deal to be hashed out around Memorial Day or the mid-summer timeframe.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking to make housing more accessible to people with criminal records. Over the next six months, Secretary Fudge directed the department to “review programs and policies that may pose barriers to housing for persons with criminal histories or their families.” The aim is to make HUD policies “as inclusive as possible” and improvements could impact nearly 1 in 3 Americans with records who face barriers to finding housing.
- No new updates since last week on the LIFELINE Act (R. 7078). The bill still needs a Republican co-sponsor for introduction in the Senate and a larger legislative vehicle to move. If Democrats can gain traction on a reconciliation bill, there could be opportunity to roll the LIFELINE Act up into the larger package.
State updates
- North Carolina agencies have drafted three documents that guide housing activities over the next year and evaluate the past year:
Each of these documents are available for public review and comment prior to being finalized and submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- The 2021 CAPER will be available for review until April 29, 2022 at 5 p.m.
- The 2022 Annual Action Plan and the Recovery Housing Program Action Plan are available for review from April 13, 2022 to May 12, 2022 at 5 p.m.
The documents are available at the above links on the North Carolina Department of Commerce website at www.nccommerce.com. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the closing comment date and may be emailed to Valerie.Fegans@nccommerce.com. A virtual public hearing to present each report and plan will also be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to join the meeting via the following link: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m57c5138af673db239ccb07ef068b8c95
Meeting number (access code): 2437 781 2480
Meeting password: 6MZqiEVjU37
- Around 100 demonstrators joined a “House Us Now” march in Chapel Hill on Saturday to draw attention to the town’s severe lack of housing available to households earning 30% of the Area Median Income and below: Community members march on Franklin Street to demand local affordable housing | Daily Tar Heal
- Charlotte allocated $2 million in federal pandemic relief to fund 178 emergency housing vouchers last year. However, only three are being used in current leases: Charlotte got 178 emergency vouchers for homeless residents. Only 3 are in use | Charlotte Observer
- A new task force has formed in Black Mountain to address the need for affordable housing in the community. The group wants to improve conditions for local employees who want to live in the area, but are currently priced out: Task force aims to tackle affordable housing crisis in Black Mountain, Swannanoa areas | MY40
- Dogwood State Bank, the Cape Fear Collective and Brick Capital Community Development Corp. of Sanford are collaborating in a $500,000 venture to provide more affordable housing in the Sanford area. Over five years, the project is expected to deliver more than 30 new affordable homes: Joint venture, $500,000 to bring affordable housing to Sanford | Yahoo News
- The Hendersonville Planning Board voted not to recommend rezoning for 52-unit affordable, senior housing building, citing concerns about scale, compatibility with the neighborhood, and traffic: Planning Board recommends denial of senior apartments on Sixth Avenue | Hendersonville Lightning
Reports/articles/events
- Webinar: Urban Institute is hosting Using American Rescue Plan and CARES Act Housing Resources to Support Reentry: HUD and Community Perspectives Wednesday, 4/20 @ 12pm
- How to fight the affordable housing and climate crises at once | Vox
- Understanding the U.S. Housing Crisis in an Era of Inflation | Citylab
- A Major Effort to Link Homeless Response and Health Care | Governing
- Biden is Doubling Down on a Push to Roll Back Single-Family Zoning Laws | Route Fifty
- Corporate landlords own thousands of homes in Mecklenburg. What can leaders do? | News & Observer
- OPED: There’s more to the story of rising rents in NC. Here’s what can be done to help | Charlotte Observer
