Organizational Update
Bringing It Home 2026
The in-person and virtual agendas for the Bringing It Home: Ending Homelessness in NC 2026 conference are now available. Homelessness services professionals and allies will gather on May 26-28 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh to learn, network, and collaborate with industry experts from across North Carolina and beyond. Check out our Bringing It Home 2026 Conference Page for more information. Registration closes May 15. Contact skirby@nchousing.org with any questions.
State Updates
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Pushes For Changes to Make Rental Housing More Affordable | NCDOJ
Attorney General Jeff Jackson and a bipartisan group of attorneys general are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban hidden and surprise fees. Read their letter here.
Legislative Updates
NC General Assembly Now in Session
Today is the first day of the short session! Our Director of Housing Policy, Stephanie Watkins-Cruz is in the building this morning.
Property Tax Committee Update
On Wednesday, April 15, the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction met and voted to make two legislative recommendations to the General Assembly. The first proposal considers putting to a vote a constitutional amendment that would authorize the NCGA to enact property tax levy limits. The second proposal would modify the nonprofit, low-to-moderate income housing property tax exemption. These proposals are explained in more detail in a recent blog post (see proposals 1 and 4). Two other proposals brought forth at the March meeting relating to hospitals were not brought for a vote after strong pushback from hospital lobbyists.
Committee Co-Chair Julia C. Howard also announced that the committee, which was formed by Speaker Destin Hall as an ad hoc committee, has been extended through at least December 2026, with further extensions likely. A summary report of the committee’s work since it began in December 2025 is available here.
Next week, we’ll be joined by Hudson Vaughan, our Director of the Community Justice Collaborative, to discuss how North Carolinians most cost burdened by property taxes will benefit more from improvements to existing property tax relief programs (Homestead Exemption, Circuit Breaker) that North Carolinians already support than from a levy limit.
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
Governor’s WNC Recovery Committee Convenes
Yesterday, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery convened for a virtual meeting. Gov. Josh Stein indicated that the General Assembly is “on the same page” as him about needing to pass another round of recovery funding. The most recent round of funding was passed 10 months ago. Gov. Stein’s recent Helene recovery budget request to the NCGA requested an additional $792 Million, including $10 Million for rent and utility assistance across WNC.
Single Family Housing Program Update
Stephanie McGarrah from the Division of Community Revitalization presented an update on the ReNew NC Single Family Housing Program. 35 homes have been completed to-date and 3,400 applications remain active (see dashboard here). Applications are grouped into four processing phases based on income (AMI), repair status, county Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) designation, and household needs.
- McGarrah said initial projections indicate insufficient funding to serve every applicant and that they will have a better idea of this number by the end of the calendar year. Current estimates from DCR indicate approximately $1.02 billion would be needed to fund all applications but the construction budget for the single family rehab program falls short at $722 million.
- She also indicated that DCR is working with the NCGA to stand up a Temporary Relocation Assistance Program that will help cover housing expenses for households with demonstrated financial need while their homes are under construction.
- Emily Gangi with the Governor’s Recovery Office reported that more than 800 homes have been repaired by nonprofit organizations with state funds. State officials attribute the state’s slower pace to a lack of affordable temporary relocation housing and more rigid Federal requirements for procurement and environmental reviews,
Local Headlines
HUD gave Asheville $225M for Helene repair. Why is there only enough money to fix 8 houses?
NC community’s affordable apartment complex gets tenants after long delay | NC Newsline
Advocates Call on Cary to Invest More in Affordable Housing | INDY Week
Why Raleigh City Leaders Won’t Commit to a $200 Million Affordable Housing Bond | INDY Week
Reports & Resources
Baby Boomers Remain Largest Share of Home Buyers as First-Time Buying Falls to Record Low | National Association of Realtors
Events
[webinar] FDIC Hosts Supporting Disaster Recovery in North Carolina | April 23, 10 a.m. – noon. Learn more and register here.
[webinar] Bipartisan Policy Center Hosts Housing Innovators: Building the Future of Affordable Housing | May 5, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn more and register here.
Affordable Housing Seminar: Tools, Strategies, and Case Studies for Local Government Leadership | UNC School of Government
May 7, 2026 in Marion, NC. Open to professionals and elected officials. Registration closes one week before the program. Click here to learn more and register. Course Cost: $270
Hendersonville Housing Summit | Wednesday, May 27, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Hendersonville High School. Learn more here.
- The event will feature an unveiling of the City of Hendersonville’s community-driven Strategic Housing Plan, an overview of new housing initiatives, and an opportunity to provide input to strengthen collaboration around housing affordability challenges.
- The summit is free and open to non-profit service providers, business representatives, government leaders, developers, lenders, affordable housing advocates, community members, and anyone committed to expanding and improving housing in Henderson County and across Western North Carolina.
2026 CAHEC Partners Conference | June 9 – 10 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Registration ends May 22. Learn more and register here.
