Federal Updates
Action Alert: Continue Applying Pressure! Housing Counseling Funds Part of Federal Clawback
On Friday, September 25, President Trump announced a pocket rescission of nearly $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funds, including $56 Million in HUD housing counseling grants nationwide. As a result, North Carolina will lose more than $1 million in housing counseling funds distributed throughout the state. The delay of this funding has already resulted in the loss of housing counseling services, and canceling the funds altogether will mean that North Carolina families will lose access to a vital financial education resource at a time when housing costs are at all-time highs.
Call Senator Tillis, Senator Budd, and your Congressperson today to let them know how the loss of this funding will impact your community, especially if you are a housing counselor. Let them know the positive impact of housing counseling in your community to combat the Trump administration’s claim that delinquency and default counseling are ineffective.
HUD Announces Code Updates to Factory-Built Housing
Last week, HUD announced a plan to modernize code and guidance for the development of factory-built housing. The plan puts legislation from the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into action, such as removing the chassis requirement for manufactured housing.
HUD designates 2027 DDAs and QCTs
Last week, HUD announced 2027 Difficult to Develop Areas (DDAs) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs). LIHTC properties built in a DDA or QCT can boost their eligible basis by up to 30%, which helps to make projects in areas with higher development costs more feasible. Analysis from Novogradac indicates that:
- Wilson County ranked among the top 10 most populous counties that lost status as a DDA
- The 28269 ZIP code in the Charlotte region was among the top 3 most populous ZIP codes that lost status as a DDA.
The 2027 QCT and DDA dataset is available here.
State Updates
John Locke Foundation Publishes, Retracts Incorrect Property Tax Calculator
Last week, the John Locke Foundation (JLF) published a “NC Property Tax Savings Calculator” that claimed to show potential individual property tax savings for homeowners under a statewide levy limit. However, the underlying data contained a significant calculation error which drastically inflated reported savings. JLF has since taken down the calculator and retracted the data, but not before the incorrect data circulated online and in the media. We broke down the data errors and other methodological issues in our latest blog, and we have our own analysis on the impacts of a potential levy limit ahead of this year’s election.
Here’s an example from our analysis that shows the calculation error & the corrected data
We’ve been including resources about elections as well as the tax amendments in the call notes and will continue to do so through election day this year so make sure to check it out!
Governor Stein tours new affordable homes in Southeast Raleigh
Last week, Governor Josh Stein joined Southeast Raleigh Promise to tour part of its 25-unit affordable housing project and highlight legislation recently signed into law that will help expand access to affordable housing statewide, such as HB 162 (parking minimums) and SB 445 (expanding ADUs). Earlier this year, Gov. Stein also signed Executive Order 38, which directs cabinet agencies to work together to increase housing supply, affordability, and access and to use technology to deliver data-driven solutions.
Legislative Updates
Sen. Jackson Announces Senate Pro Tempore Bid
Last week, Sen. Brent Jackson announced that he will run for Senate Pro Tempore. Sen. Phil Berger, who lost his re-election bid, has served in the role for the past 15 years. Senators Lee, Hise, and Johnson have also expressed interest in the position.
NCGA Convenes Special Session to Pass Relief at the Pump Act
On Wednesday, October 7, the North Carolina General Assembly briefly reconvened in Raleigh for the first extra session called this calendar year. They voted overwhelmingly to pass the Relief at the Pump Act, which suspends the state’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax through the end of November. Governor Stein signed the bill into law on Friday. However, drivers may not see gas prices drop immediately. Gas taxes are charged upstream rather than at the pump. Lawmakers plan to use inflation reserve money to backfill NCDOT while the gas tax is paused.
Election Resources
Early voting starts this Thursday, October 15! Find early voting locations in your county here.
From the NC Center for Nonprofits
North Carolina citizens who plan to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3) must be registered to vote at their current address by this Friday, October 9 at 5 p.m. Unregistered voters and people who have moved within the same county can also register or update their registration during the early voting period (October 15-31). Now is a great time for nonprofits to remind their staff, volunteers, clients, and communities to register to vote! For more on important election dates and details about the 2026 election in North Carolina, check out You Can Vote’s nonpartisan voter guide.
Tax Amendments on the Ballot
This November, North Carolinians will vote on two constitutional amendments related to taxes. One caps income tax rates for individuals and corporations at 3.5 percent, and one requires the state legislature to put limits on local revenue from property taxes, reducing the resources communities can use for emergency response, schools, infrastructure and other needs.
Putting limits on property taxes — the biggest source of funding for local governments — and income taxes — the biggest source of funding for state government — would make it harder for our counties and towns to provide the services we need.
The NC Budget & Tax Center is hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 15 at 6:00pm to share the most important facts you need to know about the amendments that are on our ballot this year. The webinar will be offered in English with live Spanish interpretation. Share with your friends and family to help spread the word before you go out to vote! Sign up for the webinar here.
For more information on the property tax amendments, you can also check out this resource from the NC Budget & Tax Center and this resource from You Can Vote.
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
Applications Open for Nonprofit Housing Projects
North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) is now accepting applications for grants funded through the Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant – Part III for housing projects by nonprofit organizations that are currently involved in ongoing repair and reconstruction projects from Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina in the counties that fall within the Federal Disaster Declaration. Applications must be received by NCEM no later than 5:00 PM EDT on October 16, 2026. For more information on how to apply, visit: www.ncdps.gov/VORGrantround3
State & Local Headlines
Duke Energy to let low-income assistance program expire, advocates show | Southern Environmental Law Center
Pinnacle Provides $200,000 Line of Credit to Burlington Community Land Trust | Pinnacle Financial Partners
Buncombe County offers up to $2,500 to homeowners facing foreclosure | WLOS
IOLTA Funding: NC legal aid groups sue over lawmakers’ redirection of millions in funding | NC Health News
Events
Housing Month | The Housing Conference is the official kick-off of NC Housing Coalition and CITYBUILDER’s Housing Month. From October 22 to November 22, we’re connecting with housing advocates to create a month of housing, culminating with YIMBYtown on November 17 through 19, and ending with the 100th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision on Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co on November 22.
- NC Affordable Housing Conference | October 22 – 23 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Register here.
- CITYBUILDER Book Club | Wednesday, October 28 12–1 PM at PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails in Raleigh.
Join for a discussion of Homelessness Is a Housing Problem, led by Eric Braun and Nicole Stewart .Please RSVP. - YIMBYTOWN | November 17-19, 2026 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Register here
Get There Asheville: City Council Candidate Forum | Hosted by Asheville on Bikes, Mountain True, and Strong Towns Asheville. Wednesday, October 14 from 6-8 p.m. at HiWire’s RAD Beer Garden.
This candidate forum is focused on the interconnected issues of housing, mobility, resilience, and land use.
[webinar] Learning How States are Designing Land Use Reforms to Expand Housing Supply | NYU Furman Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2:30 p.m. Learn more and register here.
[virtual] CITYBUILDER Carolina Policy Talk: North Carolina Housing Coalition’s Legislative Agenda | Tuesday, October 20, 12–1 PM. RSVP here..
NCWAHN 4th Annual Luncheon | Friday, October 23, 1 – 2:30 p.m. (immediately following the 2026 NC Affordable Housing Conference) at Junction West in Raleigh. Registration is $50.
UNC School of Government – Upcoming Course
Legislative Update: Planning and Development Regulation October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. $150 registration fee.
HOPE NC’s 5th Annual Inclusive Housing Summit | Monday, November 9th, 2026, 8am – 4pm at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill. Register here – $50 for Individual community members, self-advocates or caregivers & $100 for professionals.
2027 Housing Policy Forum | March 2-5, 2027
Early Bird Registration is Now Open! NLIHC’s 2027 Housing Policy Forum will convene community leaders, policy experts, researchers, tenant advocates, affordable housing practitioners, and members of Congress for thought and action partnership on ending the housing crisis impacting the lowest-income and most marginalized renters in America.
