Federal Updates
Federal Budget Puts Housing and Community Development Resources and Infrastructure at Serious Risk
The House and Senate continue to draft their FY2026 spending bills. We expect to see the House Appropriations – Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill released in early July. This bill includes the House’s funding levels for HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. The Senate timeline for releasing their spending bills is unclear, as they are reportedly still discussing topline spending items and markup schedules.
As we’ve discussed on previous calls, the Trump Administration’s full budget request to Congress contains historic and dangerous cuts to various Housing and Community Development programs. It includes cutting HUD rental assistance programs by 43% and combining five different rental assistance programs into one State Rental Assistance Block Grant, with a two-year time limit on receiving assistance. Learn more about these potential cuts and how to take action against them, and explore the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s toolkit for opposing cuts to HUD funding. We encourage you to use this resource during conversations with your members of Congress as they return to their districts for July 4 recess.
Reconciliation Package May Pass Before Recess
Senate leadership is still hoping to pass a reconciliation package (dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”) before recess. The House-passed reconciliation package includes steep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and burdensome work reporting requirements. While HUD funding is not affected by the reconciliation process, the anti-poverty programs being considered for cuts would have a huge impact on the economic stability of the lowest-income households.
State Updates
Legislative Updates
State Budget Negotiations Stalled
Negotiations about aspects of the budget as they relate to taxes are underway, but negotiations on the full budget have not really begun. Some members have alluded to a mini budget possibility, but others say it isn’t likely. We are continuing to track these conversations as well encouraging all of you to continue applying pressure and engaging around restoring the WHLP appropriation in the budget.
Crossover Bill Tracker
We’ve updated our bill tracker to reflect housing-related bills that survived crossover. For the full list of bills that made the 2025 crossover deadline, click here. Remember even if a bill did not make crossover, it doesn’t mean elements of it cannot be introduced or added into another bill that did make crossover.
Disaster Relief
Applications Open for Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program
The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program began accepting applications this week. Low-to-moderate income Helene survivors living in owner-occupied homes damaged by the storm can apply for assistance with housing rehabilitation or replacement. Priority is given to households with seniors (62+), children, or people with disabilities. The program is funded by HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and is administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Applications will be accepted through the end of 2025.
Mountain Housing Opportunities Receives Disaster Recovery Grant
WNC-based affordable housing nonprofit developer Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO) recently received a $1M grant from the Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund. The funds will support construction of new homes in Black Mountain, essential home repairs to address storm damage, rehabilitation of MHO’s affordable mixed-use properties in the River Arts District, and service navigation for disaster-impacted residents of MHO’s affordable rental communities.
Local Headlines
Buncombe County to vote on developer for Ferry Road housing project next week | WLOS
Mecklenburg County homelessness hits record high for families with children | WCNC
Charlotte City Council turns down affordable housing project | WFAE
Groups challenge Duke Energy refusal to power multifamily affordable housing unit using rooftop solar | Southern Environmental Law Center
Raleigh offering up to $60,000 for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program | ABC 11
Partnership with Greenville will build affordable housing | reflector.com
Events, Reports & Resources
Resources
Priced out: The growing challenge of teacher pay and housing costs | National Council on Teacher Quality
Events
Webinars
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, June 24, 2 p.m. Register here.
Rent Regulation in Practice: Economic Insights and Regional Perspectives | Bipartisan Policy Center, July 10 at 2 p.m. Register here.
Events
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s 2025 Terwilliger Center Summit on Housing Supply Solutions | June 18, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Register here.
JAMMI Jam 2025 | Olive Hill Community Economic Development Corporation, Inc., June 28, 2025, 6-9 p.m., Morganton, NC Amphitheater
National Conference on Ending Homelessness | June 30 – July 2 in Washington, D.C. Register here.
