Federal Updates
Take Action: Urge Your Members of Congress to Provide Increased Investments in Affordable Housing and Homelessness Resources in FY26!
Congress is out on August Recess and will return in early September. When they return, they have about a month to pass a budget or (what will most likely happen) pass a short-term stop-gap spending bill before the new Federal fiscal year begins on October 1.
Banking Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act
Earlier this week, the Senate Banking Committee unanimously passed the “ROAD to Housing Act of 2025” through markup. This legislation, led by Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), represents the committee’s first bipartisan housing markup in over a decade. The Act includes over 40 provisions and seeks to expand and preserve supply, increase access and affordability, and reduce homelessness. In addition, the legislation would permanently authorize CDBG-DR funding, and would reauthorize the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the PRICE program for manufactured housing. Click here for a section-by-section analysis of the bill.
Groups across the housing ecosystem, including the National Association of Realtors, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Apartment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, and the National Association of Home Builders are voicing support for the Act. In the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s analysis of the bill, they voiced concerns about the expansion of two HUD programs — the Moving to Work Demonstration and the Rental Assistance Demonstration. As this legislation continues to move later this Fall, we will provide further updates on its progress.
State Updates
Disaster Recovery
Virtual Meeting for Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC, Friday August 8, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The public can register for the meeting using this link.
The agenda for this week’s meeting includes updates from Director Matt Calabria of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, as well as presentations on Flood Plain Mapping, the Agriculture Disaster Crop Loss Grant Programs, and the Critical Role of Legal Services in Disaster Recovery. There will not be an opportunity for public comment, but questions and feedback can be shared at wncrecovery@nc.gov. The next meeting will take place Monday, September 15, 10am-12pm at Blue Ridge Community College (Flat Rock, NC) and will be streamed virtually.
SEAP Launches Pro Bono Help for Southern Disaster Recovery Grantseekers
Our colleagues at the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP) are launching a new initiative offering pro bono disaster recovery grant writing and strategy advice for public and nonprofit sector entities across the Southeast. Click here to learn more.
Other Disaster Recovery Headlines
Should North Carolina create an all-in-one disaster response agency? Lawmakers plan to discuss it | NC Newsline
NLIHC-Endorsed Bill Introduced Granting Mortgage Forbearance for Disaster-Impacted Families | National Low Income Housing Coalition
Legislative Updates
NCGA Overrides Governor’s Vetoes, Passes “Mini-Budget,” and More
Last week, the NC General Assembly returned and held votes to override several of Governor Josh Stein’s recent vetoes as well as vote on a handful of legislative items. Both chambers passed a joint adjournment resolution, outlining their schedule for the remainder of the year as well as into the beginning of the short legislative session in 2026. In addition to voting to override eight of Governor Stein’s 14 vetoes, the NC General Assembly approved a $2.3 billion stopgap spending bill since the full two-year budget remains stalled beyond the July 1 deadline. Some legislators are saying there may be more mini-budgets in the coming months.
The House voted separately to approve legislation that would establish a new independent disaster recovery commission. H.B. 907 – the NC Recovery and Resiliency Act creates a statewide commission and funding structure to improve disaster preparedness and implement long-term recovery separate from the general fund.This bill is expected to go through several committees over the next several months as it reflects ongoing efforts to streamline recovery operations.
Moving forward, the NC General Assembly will convene on a monthly basis through November 5, 2025, with December 16 being the final adjournment for 2025.
Last week we released a brief summary of this legislative session, click here to see that blog. We’re in the process of creating a downloadable legislative summary resource. Be on the lookout for it in this Friday’s Housing Policy Updates email!
Local Headlines
Fairhaven Meadows Apartments Breaks Ground in Brevard August 5 | NCHFA
Hendersonville opens grant applications for home repairs and accessibility improvements | WLOS
Asheville voted for $20 million affordable housing bond. Half may be loaned to a nonprofit | Yahoo
Rezoning efforts in Durham’s Hayti community cause concern among residents: ‘Not supportive of that’ | ABC11
Reports
Bringing the Housing Shortage Into Sharper Focus | Urban Institute
Home Repairs Are Out of Reach for Many Lower-Income Homeowners | Joint Center for Housing Studies
New Housing Slows Rent Growth Most for Older, More Affordable Units | The Pew Charitable Trusts
Webinars & Trainings
[webinar] “Immigration & Disaster Recovery: Rights, Access, and Where We Go from Here” | National Low Income Housing Coalition, Protecting Immigrant Families, and Just Solutions Collective, August 12, 2 – 3 pm. Register here.
[webinar] “Surviving The Next Three Years: A Roadmap For Housing Counselors” National Community Reinvestment Coalition, August 14, 2 p.m. Register here.
[free online course] Caring for Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: For System Leaders | National Alliance to End Homelessness, Free until August 22. Learn more here.
Affordable Housing Seminar: Tools, Strategies, and Case Studies for Local Government Leadership | UNC School of Government, October 16, 2025 in Chapel Hill. Course registration cost: $265
Events & Conferences
Tour of CASA’s King’s Ridge Permanent Supportive Housing Development in Raleigh | NC Women’s Affordable Housing Network, August 7, 8 – 10 a.m. Cost is $10 per person to support breakfast for residents. Register here. Space is limited.
Tour of DreamKey’s Brightwalk Community in Charlotte | NC Women’s Affordable Housing Network, August 26, 4 p.m.; Happy hour to follow at Heist Brewery at 6 p.m.. Register here. Space is limited.
Early bird registration for the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference is now open! Get our best rate by registering before close of business on August 29 at 5 pm and check out the agenda to see what we have in store for our attendees. Information about hotels, speakers, sponsors and more can all be found on our website. We look forward to seeing you on September 30–October 1 at the Raleigh Convention Center for the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference.
Save the Date: NCWAHN 3rd Annual Luncheon | Wednesday, October 1 at 1pm at The Stockroom at 203 in Raleigh
Join NCWAHN for our annual luncheon following the North Carolina Affordable Housing Conference. We will be announcing the speaker and sign-up information in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
