Organization Updates
Save the Date: Bringing It Home 2026
Save the Date for this year’s Bringing It Home: Ending Homelessness in NC conference on May 27-28, 2026 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh! Homelessness services professionals and allies will gather to learn, network, and collaborate with industry experts from across North Carolina and beyond.
Bringing It Home: Ending Homelessness in NC is a statewide conference dedicated to ensuring that homelessness in North Carolina is rare, brief, and one time only. The two-day conference will include presentations, panels, and workshops covering a broad range of topics related to homelessness. The conference is hosted by the NC Housing Coalition, NC Coalition to End Homelessness, and the NC DHHS ESG Office.
Registration will open in March. Sign up for updates, or check out our Bringing It Home 2026 Conference Page. Contact skirby@nchousing.org with any questions.
Save the Date: Housing Day 2026
Mark your calendars for NC Housing Day 2026 on April 28-29 in Raleigh! Together we will advocate for affordable, thriving communities in North Carolina. On Tuesday, April 28, we will gather for training and networking, and on Wednesday, April 29, we will gather on Halifax Mall and meet with legislators at the General Assembly. NC Housing Day is hosted by Habitat for Humanity NC, the NC Housing Coalition, the NC Community Land Trust Coalition, and the NC Coalition to End Homelessness.
Sign up today for updates on registration and event details.
Federal Updates
Federal Budget Update – Partial Government Shutdown
The House is back in Washington to begin considering a revised funding package to end the partial government shutdown that began over the weekend.
The House Rules Committee met at 4pm on Monday to start the process of bringing the funding package to the floor. They passed the package later that evening, and plan to vote today to hopefully end the partial shutdown.
As a reminder here is the text from the THUD bill which provides an approximately $7.3 billion increase over the previous fiscal year, passed in the House (341-88) with strong bipartisan support two weeks ago in a package alongside two other spending bills.
How did we get here?
Funding for many federal agencies expired on Saturday at 12:00am after Congress was unable to pass size spending bills before the CR deadline. This has resulted in a partial government shutdown. The Senate voted late Friday to approve a five-bill package and extend funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks (which was a sticking point for the House). Since there was a change to the minibus, and the House was not in session for votes last week, they still need to approve this deal this week.
The following agencies are funded and not affected by the partial shutdown since their appropriation bills have been approved by both chambers through September 30, 2026:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Department of Agriculture
- Food and Drug Administration
- Operations for the legislative branch
- Department of Commerce
- Justice Department
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
- Department of Energy
- Department of the Interior
- Environmental Protection Agency
Due to the partial government shutdown, the following agencies are not funded / impacted by the partial government shutdown.
- Defense Department
- State Department
- Department of Labor
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Education
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
For information about what happens during a shutdown and the steps that led to this moment, click here.
HHS unveils program to address homelessness and addiction, part of a set of new initiatives | AP
On Monday February 2, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, announced that $100 million will be devoted towards a pilot program addressing homelessness and substance abuse in eight cities. This comes after an executive order released last week that stated addiction treatment and recovery must be prioritized nationally, as part of the “the Great American Recovery Initiative” which aims to “better align federal resources” with the addiction crisis and national need for programs and resources. Despite the aggressive cuts made to SAMSHA – the new pilot program will be called STREETS, Safety Through Recovery, Engagement and Evidence-Based Treatment and Supports. Eight unspecified communities will be selected and this initiative will focus on building integrated care systems for people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health challenges and help them find housing and employment.
State Updates
Legislative Updates
The NC General Assembly will reconvene the week of February 9. There are also a handful of committee meetings that are occurring in the days leading up to the chambers reconvening, such as:
- The Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy is meeting TODAY – February 3, 2026 at 10:00am 543 LOB. For more meeting details click here.
- The House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform is meeting on Monday February 9, 2026 at 9:00am in the Auditorium LB. For more details click here.
Next Week
- The House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety are meeting at 1:00pm in 643 LOB. For more details click here.
Week of February 16
- The House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform is meeting at 10:00am in 643 LOB. For more details click here.
Additional NCGA Headlines:
- With raises on the line, why NC House Speaker Destin Hall isn’t budging | News & Observer
- NC lawmakers say court order limits their probe into fatal Charlotte stabbing | WRAL
- Court order forces NC Republican lawmakers to postpone hearing on high-profile Charlotte stabbing | NC Newsline
- NC lawmakers weigh how to deal with unfunded mandates, cuts as feds overhaul SNAP | NC Health News
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
NC to Receive $200 Million in Federal Disaster Relief
Last Week Secretary Noem announced that $2.2 billion in disaster relief funding to support ongoing recovery efforts would be distributed across the country. $200 million will be allocated to emergency protective measures performed by North Carolina Emergency Management during Hurricane Helene, including providing temporary facilities, mobilization of base camps, and other emergency activities. Funding will be disbursed through FEMA.
Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program Applications Remain Open
The Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program is part of the larger, overarching Multi-Family Housing Program framework. This specific program targets landlords with one to four rental units per property that were damaged by Hurricane Helene. Property owners must agree to provide affordable rent rates for a 10-year period following program construction to be considered for assistance. Potential applicants seeking more information about the Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program can visit www.renewnc.org or call 1-888-791-0207. The program launched in mid-December and has received 60 applications to date.
Local Headlines
Affordable Housing Challenges Sweep Region | The Transylvania Times
Local leaders gather to talk housing challenges, solutions in Forsyth County | WFDD
Student-Led Campaign Brings New Housing Protections to Durham Renters | NC Justice Center
Elected officials join Asheville Habitat’s Build Day to highlight affordable housing needs | WLOS
Charlotte Among Top Producers of Affordable Housing in US, Per Report | RentCafe.com
Reports & Resources
US Census Bureau Releases Energy and Rental Assistance Report
Last week the US Census Bureau released the results of a survey that provides a snapshot into the intersection of Energy and Rental Assistance (2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation). Here are some of the takeaways:
- 1 In 13 households across the country received energy assistance or rental assistance.
- 1 in 6 households with annual income below their poverty threshold received energy assistance (20% of renters, and 14% of owners).
- 1 in 5 households with annual income below their poverty threshold received rental assistance – and households with someone aged 65 or over were 24% more likely to receive rental assistance.
- 7 out of 10 households that received energy or rental assistance also had health insurance through the Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
To download the fact sheet, click here.
Comparing RV and manufactured housing data sheds critical light on U.S. affordable housing crisis | Housing Wire
Renting is cheaper than owning in every major U.S. metro | Axios
Events
The Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC | Monday, February 9 from 10 am – 12 pm. Click here for the public registration link.
[Free webinar] Leveraging H.R. 1’s Affordable Housing Provisions for Housing and Health Initiatives | Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, March 4, 4-5 p.m. ET. Register here.
Housing Policy Forum & Capitol Hill Day 2026 | National Low Income Housing Coalition, March 10-13, 2026 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register here.
Just Economy Conference 2026 | National Community Reinvestment Coalition, April 14-15, 2026 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register here.
