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Housing Call: October 10, 2023

NCHC Updates

  • If you haven’t already, register for 2023 NC Housing Works – October 23-24, 2023 at the Raleigh Convention Center: https://nchousingconference.com/. Registration closes this upcoming Friday, October 13th!
  • We’re calling for proposals for the 2024 Bringing It Home Conference on Ending Homelessness. Workshop submissions are due by December 15. Submission forms can be found on our website: https://nchousing.org/bringing-it-home-2024/
  • County Profiles & NCHC Resource Feedback

We want YOUR  feedback – give us input about County Profiles as well as what other advocacy and policy resources and tools would be helpful for you. Survey will close in 10 days on October 20!

Link to feedback: https://airtable.com/appg5jNYCjPIllFWB/shrrvZA31WQ5bTXe8

Link to County Profile gallery (see past County profiles): https://airtable.com/appg5jNYCjPIllFWB/shrmGHAQ7ySWh8JqI/tblaeOws9FPgKsvZV

 

Federal Updates

  • Last Tuesday, members of the U.S. House voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker in a 216-210 vote. The vote came after Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz forced action on a resolution to remove him in response to McCarthy negotiating with Democrats to pass a short term resolution that averted the government shutdown. It’s the first time a speaker has been removed by a House vote. Rep. Patrick McHenry from North Carolina’s 10th district will serve as interim speaker until a new speaker of the House is elected. His role has limited authority and the House can’t conduct any legislative work without an elected speaker, including funding the government to avoid a shutdown before the new deadline of November 17.
  • While the House cannot vote on legislation or amendments on the House floor without a speaker in place, committee work can continue. The House Committee on Rules will be meeting soon to discuss amendments to the THUD spending bill. Several harmful amendments have been proposed, including further cuts to federal investments in affordable housing. Advocates should contact their representatives to urge them to expand – not cut – investments in affordable homes in the FY24 spending bill and to oppose any amendments that would make it more difficult for people to access affordable homes. Once the House elects a new speaker, lawmakers can then hold a vote on the spending bill and amendments.

 

State Legislative Updates

  • Utility rates increased for Duke Energy Progress customers on October 1. The multiyear rate plan increases rates by 17.2% over the next three years, with rates increasing 10.1% in the first year, followed by an additional 3.1% and 3.2% increase in years two and three. These changes were approved by the state’s Utilities Commission in August after a contested hearing, where a coalition of consumer and clean energy advocates, including the NC Housing Coalition opposed the rate hikes. Although unsuccessful in preventing rate increases, the advocates were successful in securing a $16 million contribution from shareholders over the next three years, aimed at supporting low-income households in need of critical home repairs, energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades, and utilities assistance.
  • NC’s Local Government Commission approved nearly $2 billion in funding to support municipalities at their recent meeting. The largest approved request was for $750 million in revenue bonds for the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to increase affordable housing throughout the state.

 

Local Community Updates

  • Dare County League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum last week where candidates for Manteo’s Board of Commissioners answered questions from residents. Affordable housing issues were a recurring theme in the evening with audience questions posed about a recently proposed Bowsertown project that was thwarted, as well as discussion around a state budget provision that restricts towns from regulating affordable housing developments funded by the state.
  • On a related note in Dare County, all six municipalities have signed on to a lawsuit filed against the State of North Carolina challenging the previously mentioned budget provision. The provision limits towns’ ability to apply certain zoning requirements to affordable housing projects funded by $35 million in state money awarded to the county. Various town officials have vocally criticized the measure for encroaching on local authority over development and zoning.
  • In Gastonia, residents of Apple Tree Apartments received 60 day notices to vacate their apartments after learning that the naturally affordable complex had been sold. Monthly rents at Apple Tree had not been increased in the last few years and were about $550 per month. Now residents worry they will have nowhere to go in a city where average rent is $1,300 per month.
  • Wilmington City Council voted last week to provide additional financing to Starway Village, a proposed affordable housing development that needed gap funding to begin. The resolution approved $750,000 in loans for Starway Village, which is expected to bring 278 units of affordable housing to Wilmington for people who earn between 30-60% of the area medium income in New Hanover County.
  • Wake County Board of Commissioners and the City of Raleigh have both approved funding to support construction of a new affordable housing development off Cross Link Road in Raleigh. The apartments will serve families at different income levels, ranging from 30-70% of the area median income. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.

 

Reports & Resources

 

Events

 

In the News

 

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Housing Call: October 3, 2023

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