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Housing Call: November 07, 2023

NCHC Updates

Highlighting our DPH Project – Learning Collaborative this Friday!

  • Overview of project – In collaboration with the Division of Public Health, the NC Housing Coalition has been researching and engaging communities around the state to better understand the housing barriers that Justice Involved populations face, as well as those that are struggling with opioid addiction and at risk of overdose. We have been particularly focused on interdisciplinary cross sector interventions to address both the housing needs and the service needs of these vulnerable populations.
    • Goals of project – The goal of year one was to write a Landscape Analysis, looking both at national data trends and best practices, and what this issue looks like across the state of North Carolina. We interviewed over 70 individuals from a wide spectrum of sectors. In particular we were interested to find out about what kinds of cross sector collaborations do exist and where we need to strengthen to better serve those that are Justice Involved and at risk of overdose.  As the project winds down in the Spring of 2024, we will have a final report to publish, so stay tuned
    • Deliverables – During the second and final years of the project we have been working on an advocacy toolkit with information about what kinds of best practices and interventions would be most effective in removing barriers to accessing and maintaining housing. We are also especially interested in engaging stakeholders around the Opioid Settlement funds coming to NC and what kinds of ways this money can be used towards housing interventions. Finally, we will be hosting 6 Learning Collaborative sessions with experts from NC to discuss their work on this topic. Presenters will span multiple disciplines from Public Health to Legal to local government, to community based providers.
  • Learning collaborative on Friday – Our first session will be this friday Nov 10, 2023 with colleagues from the NC Healthcare Foundation. They will be discussing issues around the opioid crisis and their multiple initiatives focused on working with hospitals and health systems to advance alternatives to opioids, accelerate adoption of best practices, and improve care continuity and coordination among hospitals and community partners.
  • If you are interested in being involved email Alex at arubenstein@nchousing.org

 

Federal Updates

  • According to new House speaker Mike Johnson, lawmakers worked over the weekend on a stopgap funding measure to fund the government beyond the current Nov. 17 deadline. At the same time, they are continuing to work on appropriations bills. The House plans to vote on its version of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill and several harmful amendments this week. The vote was initially planned for Friday, but got delayed after some members opposed the bill due to cuts to funding for transportation programs.

The Senate passed its fiscal year (FY) 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill on November 1 in a “minibus” bill. The minibus passed, with broad bipartisan support and with no problematic amendments related to HUD.

While both the House and Senate FY24 draft bills provide increased funding for some housing priorities, including Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), native housing, and Homelessness Assistance Grants, the House bill proposes significant cuts to – and even the elimination of – many HUD programs. And because of dramatic rent increases last year, neither bill provides enough resources to renew all existing Housing Choice Voucher contracts.

Advocates should contact their representatives and urge them to support the highest level of funding possible for affordable housing and homelessness programs, and oppose harmful amendments.

 

State Updates

  • Today (Tuesday, November 7) is Election Day for municipal races across the state. While local elections typically get less attention than presidential and congressional elections, the outcomes of these races can have a huge impact on policies needed to advance affordable housing. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to vote! Information on polling places and sample ballots can be found on the NC Board of Elections website at gov.

 

Local Community Updates

  • The Dare County Commissioners approved the creation of an affordable housing task force last month that will include officials from each of the county’s towns, as well as representatives of local businesses. The group’s mission will go beyond a short term goal of building several housing projects to focus on collaboratively addressing housing affordability in the county over the long term. The task force will convene its first meeting after the Nov. 7 municipal elections.
  • The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has been awarded $7.4 million for affordable housing from the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency. The funds will be used to increase the availability of safe, affordable housing in areas of the state that experienced major damage from hurricanes’ Matthew and Florence. The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s initiative looks to build 30 single family homes in the tribal territory that will be available to households earning 80% AMI or below.
  • In addition to these funds awarded to the Lumbee Tribe, several eastern North Carolina communities will receive $35 million collectively from the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency’s Affordable Housing Development Fund:
    • $9.6 million to Scotland County, for 55 rental units in partnership with North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and Southeastern Community Action Partnership.
    • $9.7 million to the town of Maysville in Jones County, for 40 units of affordable multi-family housing in partnership with Carolina Statewide Development LLC.
    • $6.6 million to Pamlico County, for 29 units of the 56-unit Pamlico Grove apartments being developed by Mills Property Development, LLC. The project also will use federal tax credits and bank loans to complete the $13.6 million total cost.
    • $9.7 million to the town of Beulaville, in Duplin County, which will work with developer Carolina Statewide Development LLC to build 40 multi-family rental units in an area where few rental housing options exist.
  • The Town of Carrboro has selected a new director of Housing and Community Services after a nationwide search for candidates. Anne-Marie Vanaman previously served as interim director for the Housing and Community Services Department and worked to advance affordable housing in the town and throughout Orange County for more than 15 years.
  • Winston-Salem officials are considering creating a fund to address rising rents and the lack of affordable housing options throughout the city. The city has a shortage of more than 16,000 affordable rental homes, according to a study from 2018. Officials voted in a committee meeting in October to direct city staff to research the development of a housing trust fund. A formal proposal is expected to be presented to council by early next year.
  • Also in Winston Salem, the city sold a dozen vacant lots for $1 each to enable the development of affordable single-family homes for households earning 80% AMI and below.

 

Reports & Resources

 

Events

 

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Housing Call: October 31, 2023

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