Housing Call: August 18, 2026 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

Organizational Updates

Nominations for the 2026 NC Housing Coalition Awards are now open!

Each year at the NC Affordable Housing Conference breakfast, we recognize organizations and individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to advocate for affordable housing. If you or someone you know has excelled in housing advocacy over the last year, submit a nomination by September 18.

Register Now: NC Affordable Housing Conference

Early bird registration for The 2026 NC Affordable Housing Conference is now open! Get our best rate by registering before close of business on September 24 at 5 pm and check out the agenda to see what we have in store for our attendees. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas and drive positive change. The 2026 NC Affordable Housing Conference will be held on October 22–23 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Federal Updates

2026 CoC NOFO and Deadlines Vacated

On August 7, a federal court ordered HUD to fully vacate the issuance of the 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – more than $4B in funding awarded to local communities to address solutions to homelessness. Proposed changes to the 2026 program would have dramatically shifted funding away from permanent housing and would have put over 97,000 people at risk of losing housing. This is the third time during President Trump’s current term that a federal court has ruled HUD changes to the CoC program violated federal law. As expected, HUD is appealing the ruling.

Payment Standard Revised for Emergency Housing Vouchers, Stability Vouchers

Last week, HUD issued new guidance that rescinds a COVID-era policy allowing Public Housing Authorities to issue Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) and Stability Vouchers (SVs) for up to 120% of the Fair Market Rent without HUD approval. This change is only for new leases and will not impact current EHV and SV recipients remaining in their units.

Reminder: August Recess Advocacy Opportunity

Members of Congress are home on August recess for the next few weeks. The House is scheduled to return on August 31 and the Senate is scheduled to return on September 14.

As we’ve mentioned, this is a great time of year to schedule in-district meetings with your members of congress, and invite them to see your impactful work as well as connecting them with directly impacted people and communities so they can see how their decisions and how policies and programs are playing out in their district and what solutions are needed. Check out the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s August Recess Advocacy Toolkit by clicking here. Tell them to expand and not cut federal investments in affordable housing and homeless assistance programs.

Reminder: Urge Congress to Block Elimination of Disparate Impact Regulations by October 9

As we mentioned on last week’s call, on August 10 HUD issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that would eliminate the agency’s longstanding disparate impact regulations that implement Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin toward recipients of federal financial assistance, including federally assisted housing. If disparate impact regulations are eliminated, housing policies that disproportionately harm protected groups would be more difficult to prove in court. Public comments on this proposal are due by October 9, 2026. Use the National Council of Nonprofits’ tool to email your members of Congress and urge them to block implementation of OMB’s proposed rule.

State Updates

NC’s District 11 Republicans Select Balkcom to Replace Edwards on Ballot

Last week, a committee of WNC Republicans selected Jennifer Balkcom to replace Western Carolina Representative Chuck Edwards as the Republican candidate for the District 11 election. Balkcom will face Democratic candidate Jamie Ager in the November election.

Disaster Recovery

New FEMA Administrator Sworn In

Cameron Hamilton was sworn in on August 10 as the first permanent administrator of FEMA during the Trump administration’s second term. Hamilton previously led FEMA in a temporary capacity from January-May 2025, when he was fired after opposing the elimination of FEMA.

The Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery will meet virtually on Friday, August 21, 10:00am – 12:00pm. The agenda is linked. Members of the public can register for the meeting at this link. There will not be an opportunity for public comment, but questions and feedback can be shared at wncrecovery@nc.gov.

Local Headlines

Construction on new Asheville veterans campus to begin nearly 2 years after Helene | WLOS

Mecklenburg County sues Brooklyn Village developers over stalled Uptown project | QC News

Charlotte-area foreclosures spike 71%. What’s pushing homeowners to the brink? | Charlotte Observer

For Older Black Homeowners, a Lifetime of Housing Discrimination Adds Up | Shelterforce

Chapel Hill releases updated Land Use Management Ordinance draft based on years of planning | The Daily Tar Heel

‘Really awesome’: Durham plans $27M affordable housing project on vacant police headquarters property | CBS 17

Expansion of North Hills closing down one of Raleigh’s few affordable apartment communities | WUNC

WCPSS and County Commissioners hear affordable housing proposal for teachers and employees | CBS 17

Greenville City Council approves affordable housing, park projects and more | WCTI

Reports & Resources

The Faulty Logic Behind Trump’s Plans to Massively Disrupt Homeless Services | National Alliance to End Homelessness

Events

[webinar] Land with a Plan: Using Design as a Strategic Tool in Land Banking | Center for Community Progress, Thursday, August 27 at 12:00 PM. Register here.

How to Speak at City Council Training | Thursday, September 10, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, McPherson Residence Inn Marriott, 1108 W Main St, Durham

Join CITYBUILDER and Yes! In My Triangle for this free training to learn how to speak at City Council and public meetings. Participants will be joined by local leaders and advocates, as well as the Duke University Improv team. This training is free and open to the public, but registration is limited. Please register at the link.

UNC School of Government – Upcoming Community Development Courses