Organization Updates
Share a Video With Us: Your Dreams for 2026
The New Year is a time to dream about what might be different. 2025 was a rough year for those of us who do this work, and there is still a lot of uncertainty and disruption as we enter 2026. But in this quiet moment, we want to know about your plans and your dreams for how you are going to make an impact in your communities this year. Record a video and share it with us so that we can dream together: https://airtable.com/appBs0E81QwLBdXUD/pagAEtpkGhSbOLup0/form
Federal Updates
Federal Budget Update
Congress needs to pass the nine remaining spending bills by January 30, when the current Continuing Resolution ends. The first of three planned minibus packages was passed in the House last week and is expected to go for a vote in the Senate early this week. The second tranche of bills was released on Sunday, January 11. The Transportation, Housing & Urban Development (THUD) budget is expected to be released in the third and final tranche of bills.
FY 2025 CoC NOFO Litigation
As we’ve been discussing on the past few housing calls, in November the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) that would drastically reduce permanent housing funding for Continuums of Care (CoCs) and instead move the funding to Transitional Housing with work requirements. The proposed changes would put over 170,000 people at risk of losing stable housing. The National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, along with a number of state and local governments, are suing HUD for the unlawful funding restrictions placed on the Continuum of Care grant program. Litigation is ongoing.
In the meantime, the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Alliance to End Homelessness are calling on Congress to hold HUD accountable to its promised two-year NOFO cycle, and to include language in any final THUD bill that would extend funding for previously awarded projects for another 12 months. This language is necessary to protect critical funding that communities rely on for homelessness response.
Check out this resource from the National Alliance to End Homelessness to learn more about the NOFO that HUD Issued and the harmful effects it would have on communities.
Other Federal Headlines
Trump says he will seek to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes | CBS News
Dems launch election-year affordable housing blitz | Axios
State Updates
Legislative Updates
The House and Senate will each convene on Thursday morning. Oftentimes votes are scheduled for these days. However, votes on bills or resolutions or veto-overrides for example, do not always happen. This week, no House votes are anticipated but several key committees will be meeting.
Upcoming NCGA Committee Meetings
Tuesday, January 13
- The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services will meet at 9 a.m. in Legislative Office Building Room 643. Stream the meeting here.
- The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid will meet at 1 p.m. in Legislative Office Building Room 643. Stream the meeting here.
Wednesday, January 14
- The House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Legislative Office Building Room 544. Stream the meeting here.
- The House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform will meet at 10 a.m. in Legislative Office Building Room 643. Stream the meeting here.
Thursday, January 15
- The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety will meet at 1 p.m. in Legislative Office Building Room 643. Stream the meeting here.
2026 Primary Election
Voting by mail started yesterday in NC for the 2026 primary election. The US Postal Service recently announced that mail may no longer be postmarked on the day the postal service takes possession of it. With that in mind, folks utilizing Vote by Mail should mail their ballots in advance of Election Day on Tuesday, March 3. The last day to request an absentee ballot is February 17. In-person early voting will take place from February 12-28.
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC Convenes
The Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC held their first meeting of the year on Friday, January 9. They announced that the application deadline for the Single-Family Housing Program has been extended through January 31, 2026. Learn more about how to apply.
Other Disaster Recovery Headlines
How NC is preparing for a new year of Helene recovery: Housing, tourism & leaning on FEMA | NC Newsline
Recovery in Swannanoa continues as new year begins | Mountain Xpress
Local Headlines
Eight North Carolina Communities Receive $12 Million in Neighborhood Revitalization Grants | NC Commerce
High Point proposes 5-year plan to build and preserve 5,000 homes | WUNC
Nonprofit plans 84-unit affordable apartment complex in Greensboro | wfmynews2.com
The struggles of homebuyers in the Chatham County real estate market | Chatham Journal Newspaper
City leaders consider short-term options and affordable housing at old Durham police headquarters | WRAL
Wilmington Housing Authority set to raise rents on 500+ apartments next year | WHQR
A domestic violence shelter in Brunswick County seeks expansion as housing prices soar | Port City Daily
Energy Saver NC now available in Brunswick County | newsargus.com
Without county for now, city establishes new affordable housing panel | WilmingtonBiz
Reports & Resources
[data] Track the impact of Wake County housing investments through new interactive tools | Wake County Government
[report] Land at Risk: Heirs’ Property in the Carolinas | Richmond Fed
[report] Federal Assistance Programs Help Mitigate the Worst of the Housing Crisis | Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
[resource] FY2025 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (CoC NOFO) Contingency Planning Toolkit | National Alliance to End Homelessness
Events
NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD): 2026 Annual Meeting | January 13, 10 a.m. – noon at the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church, 700 Waterfield Ridge Place, Garner, NC 27529. Virtual attendance will be available on Zoom.
ReNew NC Virtual Information Sessions | ReNew NC is hosting two virtual information sessions to provide an overview of the Small Rental Rehabilitation program and answer questions from potential applicants. This program helps eligible rental property owners (landlords) repair, reconstruct, or replace small rental properties (1- 4 units) damaged by Hurricane Helene. Learn more about the qualifications and how to apply.
(Choose one session, both cover same content):
- Wednesday, January 14 at 1 p.m. | Register here
- Wednesday, January 21 at 1 p.m. | Register here
Save the Date: Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC | The Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC will meet again on the morning of Monday, February 9. We’ll include a link to register for the virtual meeting once it becomes available.
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. Early bird pricing ends this Thursday, January 15
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.
