Housing Call: February 4, 2024 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

Organizational Updates

Housing Day 2025

Calling all advocates, community members, organizations, and allies! The North Carolina Housing Coalition, Habitat NC, and the NC Coalition to End Homelessness invite you to participate in our 2025 NC Housing Day at the NC General Assembly on Wednesday, April 9 in downtown Raleigh. Register here.

The goal of NC Housing Day is to make housing a top priority for your elected officials as they develop the state’s two-year budget and legislative priorities for the rest of the year. According to our County Profiles, 48% of renters and 19% of homeowners in North Carolina pay more than 30% of their income on housing, and housing prices continue to rise dramatically across the state. But statistics don’t tell the whole story. Your legislators need to hear directly from you, their constituents, about the housing needs in your community.

At NC Housing Day, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with your state legislators to advocate for housing in your community. You’ll also connect with other housing advocates across the state and learn more about how you can engage with housing advocacy year-round. The NC Housing Coalition, Habitat NC, and the NC Coalition to End Homelessness will also provide advocacy training and resources ahead of your meetings with legislators.

NCHC’s 2025 Housing Day will begin at 8:30am and will end by 3:00pm. The NC General Assembly is in downtown Raleigh, and we will share additional details about our downtown gathering point soon. Registration is free! Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Ahead of NC Housing Day on April 9th, we invite you to join our NC Housing Champions Networking Dinner on April 8th at Nest Raleigh. This a great opportunity to connect with NC Housing Day hosts, fellow advocates from across the state, and special legislative guests. Cocktail hour begins at 6:30, with dinner served at 7:00. Tickets are $35 per person. Register for the dinner here.

Federal & National Updates

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) granted again by Federal Judge regarding the Federal Freeze Executive Order| NPR

January 27 – Executive Order & OMB Memo released

January 28 – Original going into effect date of the executive order on freezing federal grants and loans

January 28 – Federal Judge places a temporary stay on the Executive Order

January 29 – OMB Memo is rescinded but communication from the White House indicates plans to continue with halting and evaluating programs.

February 3 – Temporary Stay set to expire

February 3 – Federal Judge grants a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the efforts to freeze federal funds.

We encourage you all to continue calling and communicating with your congressional delegates. If you haven’t already, please let us know how this is or would affect your work and your community. Click here to fill out a brief form.

March 14 Funding Deadline Nears with No Clear Path to Final FY25 Agreement | NLIHC

The Federal Freeze Executive Order and OMB Memo issued last week derailed the House Budget Commitee’s original plan to vote on a budget resolution this week.

While the memo was ultimately rescinded, it created a lot of chaos as people were unable to access funds. If a final FY25 spending agreement is not passed by March 14, another continuing resolution will need to be passed to avoid a partial government shutdown.

State & Local Updates

NCGA Updates

First week of session’s major focus is on Disaster Recovery with both the House Select Committee on Hurricane Helene and – the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations Subcommittee on Hurricane Recovery.

First NC Legislative Sessions of 2025 Focus on Disaster Recovery | NC Housing Coalition

Disaster Recovery

Josh Stein asks NC lawmakers for another billion in Hurricane Helene aid | NC Newsline

Yesterday, Governor Josh Stein outlined a request to the NCGA for an additional $1.07 billion in Hurricane Helene recovery funding. The housing requests, which total $263M, are listed below:

Most of these funds Stein requested would address immediate needs and help get folks back in permanent housing quickly. Federal funds for housing are not expected to be disbursed for a number of months.

Lessons learned: Lawmakers hope to avoid mistakes from the past as they rebuild Western NC | NC Newsline
New homes planned for flood survivors | themountaineer.com
NC’s hurricane homebuilding program asks for $217M as lawmakers continue scrutiny | NC Newsline

Q&A: Why average statewide rate for NC homeowners insurance to increase by 7.5% on June 1 | WUNC

The NC Department of Insurance recently announced they have negotiated with the NC Rate Bureau to a statewide average homeowners insurance rate increase of 7.5% for 2025 and an additional 7.5% increase in 2026. Citing climate change and inflation, the Rate Bureau originally requested a change of up to 99% in some high risk areas last January. As part of the agreement, the maximum rate increase for any area (including the coast) cannot exceed 35% over the next 2 years.

Other State & Local News

‘King’s Ridge’ opens in east Raleigh, offering affordable housing, health care | WRAL

Affordable housing nonprofit CASA recently celebrated the opening of King’s Ridge apartments in East Raleigh. The community is designed for families and individuals exiting homelessness and is based on the Housing First model, which recognizes the importance of stable housing as the first step in addressing personal wellness.

The 100 deeply affordable units are located alongside a hub of supportive services for residents. Click here to learn more about the King’s Ridge model.

Greensboro Looks to Ease Housing Crunch | The Assembly
DHIC proposes affordable senior housing complex on Homestead Road | The Local Reporter

Events

[webinar] Manufactured for the Future: Building a Climate-Resilient Manufactured Housing Stock | Urban Institute, February 4, 2025 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Register here

WNC Town Hall on February 5, 2025 – Now that federal funding for Helene recovery is secured, our state policy makers must work together to fill in the remaining funding gaps for a full and inclusive recovery for North Carolina. On February 5, 2025 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (ET) our partners at the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center, the North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network, and MDC, Inc., are hosting a telephone town hall event for Western North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene to share their stories and lift up their needs. State lawmakers and other members of the NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network as well as thousands of Western North Carolinians in disaster-declared counties have been invited. Join us to listen to the voices of Western North Carolinians and amplify their needs to our state decision makers as they consider additional relief packages for the region. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Registration has ended but if you did not register, you can still listen to the audio, primarily in English, by dialing in: (855)-756-7520 Ext.120026#. ASL interpretation is available on Zoom. If you did register, you will receive a phone call to join. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@ncbudget.org.
[webinar] Advancing Homelessness Solutions Webinar Series | National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Alliance to End Homelessness & Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | February 11, 2 – 3 p.m. Register here.
[webinar] Interim Strategies for Responding to Unsheltered Homelessness | National Alliance to End Homelessness, Wednesday February 12, 3-4 p.m. Register here.
[webinar] “The Housing Moment: Innovations for a Better Future,” | Terner Labs & the National League of Cities, Thursday, February 27, at 9:00 a.m. Register here.
- The event will include three panel discussions and presentations covering topics such as housing innovation, the relationship between housing and wealth, and the development of stable and strong homes. The event will feature conversations between several housing, community development, and financing experts.