Organizational Updates
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.
Engage With Us!
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be meeting with partners and allies throughout the housing ecosystem as we plan for advocacy over the coming year. If you’d like to check in, contact us at info@nchousing.org or keep an eye out for communication from our team.
Community Resources: Know Your Rights
We advocate for affordable housing because we want to see safe, healthy, thriving communities in North Carolina, and operations that include racial profiling, targeted public harassment, arrests, and killings by masked agents only instills fear and jeopardizes the safety and livelihoods of our neighbors. We continue to monitor ICE/CBP activity in NC and across the country and connect with our partners about the impacts of these operations on our communities.
Resources:
- Siembra NC: Hotline number 336-543-0353
- Ojo Obrero
- North Carolina Justice Center – Emergency Planning Resources for Immigrant Families
- ACLU – Know Your Rights
- ICE Raid Resources for Shelters & Service Providers | Housing Not Handcuffs
Federal Updates
Key Takeaways from the THUD Final FY26 Budget
The final FY 26 Transportation, Housing & Community Development (THUD spending bill that funds HUD’s housing and community development programs was released last Tuesday morning.
Key Takeaways:
- Provides a total of $77.3 billion for HUD programs. This is more than double the $3.3 billion provided for HUD programs in the Senate’s FY 26 spending bill. The House’s FY26 spending bill called for a $2.2 billion cut to HUD programs.
- Housing Counseling Assistance program received level funding from the previous year, $57.5 million.
- Does not include harmful policies outlined in the House spending bill, such as work requirements, repealing the 30-day eviction notice requirements for households receiving HUD assistance, and withholding funds for sanctuary cities.
- In response to the CoC NOFO, the bill also includes language reiterating that HUD must conduct rulemaking in accordance with existing laws.
Want to learn more about the THUD budget? Check out the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)’s full analysis and budget chart with funding levels for key housing programs.
Partial Government Shutdown Possible Over DHS Bill
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 last week in a package alongside two other spending bills. The contentious Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bill was voted on separately and passed with narrower margins (220-207). After passing in the House, the bills were combined into a broader 6-bill minibus in the Senate. In the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Senate Democrats are demanding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bill be removed from the FY26 minibus package that includes the THUD bill.
According to analysis from our colleagues at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, it’s unclear if the DHS bill can be removed from the broader spending package. If the DHS bill is kept in the minibus, any revisions to it would require another vote in the House to pass. But with the House out until February and the current continuing resolution (CR) set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, the federal government would enter a partial shutdown before a vote occurs.
These 6 remaining spending bills in the minibus account for 75% of all federal discretionary spending, meaning a partial shutdown would have widespread impacts on many federal programs. The SNAP program should not be affected because Congress voted in November to fund SNAP through September 30, 2026.
Housing Advocates Oppose Public Charge, Fair Housing Act Proposed Rules
Two recent Proposed Rules from the Trump Administration threaten housing stability for immigrants and fair housing protections broadly. Our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition have submitted comments along with more than 170 members of Congress in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s “public charge” Proposed Rule. Advocates are also opposing a new Proposed Rule from HUD that would roll back disparate impact enforcement of the Fair Housing Act.
Reminder: NLIHC Extends Sign-on Letter Deadline in Support of FEMA Act
Our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) are extending the deadline to January 30 for organizations to join a sign-on letter in support of the bipartisan “FEMA Act” (H.R.4669). A leaked draft of the final report recommends gutting FEMA’s workforce by 50% and increasing the level of damage to qualify for any kind of disaster assistance. These are all ideas that would be incredibly damaging to disaster survivors and set our disaster recovery system back decades. NLIHC is accepting signatures to its FEMA Act support letter by Jan 30.
State Updates
Legislative Updates
Property Tax Reform Meeting Scheduled for February 18
The NC House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform will meet on February 18 at 10 a.m. and can be livestreamed here.
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
The application deadline for the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program has been extended through this Saturday, January 31, 2026. Homeowners who have already received Helene-related assistance from FEMA or a home insurance policy can still apply to the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program. The program is designed to address housing recovery needs that remain after all other assistance has been exhausted. To date, more than 7,600 applications have been submitted. Click here to learn more about how to apply.
Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program Applications Remain Open
The Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program is part of the larger, over-arching 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
“First of its kind” luxury affordable housing open in Uptown | Axios
Dilworth rezoning could pave the way for new apartment complex | QC News
UNC and town take action on Chapel Hill’s housing crunch | Axios
Gov. Stein touts federal grants to replace small-town houses | WUNC
Scattered Homes, Shared Landlords: The Changing Landscape of Tenant Organizing | Shelterforce
Reports & Resources
2026 Federal Housing Policy Preview | Terner Center for Housing Innovation
States Should Pursue New Revenue Options to Expand Access and Prevent Cuts to Affordable Housing and Homelessness Solutions | Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
Worst Case Housing Needs for Renters Ticked Down, But Remain High | Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
Homelessness and Housing Program Trends by State | Urban Institute
Proposed Cuts to Supports for Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness Threaten an Already Weakened System of Vital Services | Urban Institute
Events
[webinar] How Does Lived Expertise Contribute to Ending Homelessness? Analysis and Findings from the Alliance’s LEARN Surveys | National Alliance to End Homelessness, Tuesday, January 27, 3-4 p.m. Register here.
[webinar] Bringing Affordable Housing Developers to the Table: How Local Governments Can Lead | UNC School of Government’s Our State, Our Homes Webinar Series, January 28, 12-1 p.m. Register here.
Join Carolina Across 100 on January 28, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM for a free public webinar focused on steps local governments can take to successfully engage affordable housing developers. The Development Finance Initiative at the UNC School of Government will discuss the importance of communicating a clear vision for the preferred development and outline steps the public partner can take to lay the groundwork for a successful partnership. The webinar will also touch on the different types of housing developers and how to assess whether a developer’s expertise aligns with your community’s goals. There will be time for audience Q&A.
[webinar] The Landscape of Collaboration on Local Climate-Housing Initiatives | Housing Solutions Lab at NYU Furman Center, January 29, 12-12:45 p.m. Register here.
The Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC | Monday, February 9 from 10 am – 12 pm. Click here for the public registration link.
[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.
