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Housing Call: January 28, 2025

Organizational Updates

The 2025 County Profiles are now live! Our County Profiles are designed to be an accessible tool for people to both learn and communicate about the housing need in their communities, to a wide variety of audiences. Visit our website to see all 100 County Profiles as well as our 2025 State Profile.

Check out a summary of key trends and highlights from our profiles this year: 2025 County Profiles blog.

Featured Conversation about 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report  Pt 1 & PIT 

Bio for Dr. Latonya Agard, Executive Director of the NC Coalition to End Homelessness
Latonya L. Agard, “Dr. A,” comes to NCCEH with a wealth of leadership experience within the faith community, higher education, nonprofits, and mental health. She holds several degrees, including a BS in Chemistry and an MA in English from the University of Alabama, an MDiv from Duke University Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Her work in higher education focused on mentoring first-generation African American students, helping to build their capacity for resilience, and teaching at the University of Alabama, Miles College, Barton College, and Duke Divinity School. As a local pastor and church planter, she has led communities of faith to consider the dynamic relationships between Christian praxis and professions of faith. This transformative work fuels her interest to connect the tenets of her faith with the practical needs of marginalized communities, which is partly reflected in her work to help establish ONE Wake, an IAF affiliate in Wake County, NC, her job as a case manager for the Support Circle Program for Homeless Families, and her service on nonprofit Boards of Directors.  Integrating her skills, knowledge, and experience, Dr. A broadened her justice work by opening her business, BeSpeak Solutions, Inc. As an NC Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor and DEI Specialist, she provides narrative and trauma-informed mental healthcare, workshops, presentations, and consultant services. In 2021, she joined NCCEH as a Consultant to begin guiding the agency through the difficult process of identifying and dismantling racism and racist practices. This collaborative relationship challenged the staff and Board of Directors to redefine its values, reframe its Mission and Vision, and craft an explicit DEI Statement. As Executive Director, Dr. A continues to lead NCCEH as we transform our workplace culture and serve people experiencing homelessness in North Carolina.  

Federal & National Updates

Federal Budget

There is a March 14 deadline for Congress to reach a deal and fund the federal government to avert a government shutdown. However, congressional leaders are putting a lot of attention at the moment towards the tax package they hope to enact within the first 100 days of President Trump’s days in office. On January 27, 2025 – the appropriations committee leaders were given permission to begin a top line spending deal for a final FY 2025 spending bill. For HUD programs, the proposed budget from the House would include a $2.3 billion, or 3% budget cut from the previous year, while the Senate proposed a $8.2 billion increase – 10% – from the previous fiscal year. Even with the high funding levels – the Senate Bill still comes up about $800 million short of the full cost of voucher renewals. Here are some of the latest news related to budget conversations and negotiations.

Federal Policy News

State & Local Updates

Disaster Recovery & Relief

President Trump was in Asheville on Friday and during his visit he expressed that FEMA must either be “fundamentally reformed” or potentially eliminated as he surveyed the damage and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.

FEMA extends hotel stays for eligible Helene survivors by two months, through May 26. This applies to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program which allows disaster survivors to be housed in temporary, short-term accommodations when other housing options are not available. The original deadline was scheduled to take place in March.

Insurance remains a key issue we will watch this year. Last week the Associated Press released a piece stating that North Carolina home insurance premium base rates are expected to increase by about 15% by mid-2026.

NC General Assembly Updates

Sad news – last week former North Carolina judge, lab director Joe John dies just after state House resignation | WUNC. Rep. John consistently supported housing and community development legislation especially as it pertained to veterans, expanding property tax relief, and homebuyers assistance programs 

This week is the official kick off for the 2025-2026 session and it will be a busy one! Be on the lookout for our bill tracker that we will release in the coming weeks so you can follow along with us, key bills related to housing, community development, and more.

Here is the schedule for the week. Our Director of Housing Policy Stephanie Watkins-Cruz will be there and will be providing updates in our housing matters this week and during next week’s housing call. To view the full legislative calendar click here.

Wednesday January 29, 2025

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Events

  • [webinar] Housing as a Pathway to Justice: Introducing Our National Toolkit | Enterprise Community Partners, January 29, 1 – 2:15 p.m. 
  • [networking] Charlotte Area Planning Group Meet-Up I American Planning Association – NC Chapter, January 30 at Primal Brewing in Belmont, 6:00 – 8:00pm
  • The North Carolina Bar Association, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Pisgah Legal Services are partnering to offer free legal clinics for people recovering from Hurricane Helene. Staff and volunteer attorneys will be on site to help with issues and questions regarding FEMA claims and appeals and landlord/tenant matters. This is a chance to get legal information and advice from lawyers on the spot. Attendees may also apply for legal help and get referrals to other resources. One-hour appointments are available, walk-ins are welcome, and sign-up information is available at pisgahlegal.org/helene.

Upcoming in-person Disaster Legal Services Free Legal Clinics:

  • Mitchell County | Jan. 29, 2025, 10 AM – 4 PM
     Mitchell County Senior Citizen Center, 152 Ledger School Road, Bakersville.
  • Black Mountain | Jan. 31, 2025, 9 AM – 5 PM
    Sneed & Stearns Offices, 109 Church St.
  • Henderson County | Feb. 1, 2025, 9 AM – 2 PM
    Henderson County Disaster Recovery Center, Blue Ridge Commons, 2111 Asheville Highway,    Hendersonville.
  • Black Mountain | Feb. 21, 2025, 9 AM – 5 PM
     Sneed & Stearns Offices, 109 Church St.
  • Marion | Feb. 22, 2025, 12 PM – 5 PM
    Catawba River Lodge, 17677 US 221 N.

 

  • 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. To register for the event, please fill out this form by Wednesday, January 29, and you will receive a follow-up email with further information. All information is kept confidential.  Please register by no later than Wednesday, January 29. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@ncbudget.org.  

Reports & Resources

In the News

Recommended read

Housing Call: January 21, 2025

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