Housing Matters: Policy Update 5-10-18 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

Samuel Gunter, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Federal Updates

White House Attempts to Recind $15.2 Billion in Approved Spending

On Tuesday, the White House issued a recissions package calling for $15.4 billion of the budget agreement to be voided. The recissions include:

Rental Assistance through USDA;
The Public Housing Capital Fund through HUD;
The Capital Magnet Fund; and
The CDFI Fund.

To read more about this, read Novogradac’s blog.

White House Proposes Rent Increases

In April, the White House proposed changing the calculation for HUD-assisted rents. The bill would increase rents, eliminate income deductions for health and child care expenses, and permit Public Housing Agencies implement work requirements. For more information, visit Enterprise’s blog.

HUD Releases FY2018 Allocations

The FY 2018 budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development has been enacted. North Carolina will see These spreadsheets provide full-year allocations for the Office of Community Planning and Development’s formula programs. North Carolina will see $135,928,510 between entitlement and non-entitlement communities.

$78,817,589 in CDBG;
$37,953,190 in HOME;
$6,401,356 in ESG;
$6,882,184 in HOPWA; and
$5,874,191 in Housing Trust Fund.

You can see the complete breakdown for North Carolina’s allocation here.

Measuring Inclusion in America’s Cities

Everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from economic prosperity. The Urban Institute has collected data on 274 of the largest US cities and ranked those cities on economic, racial, and overall inclusion across four decades. You can access their dashboard here.

State Updates

CALL TODAY! Appropriations Meetings Happening Before Session Begins

This week North Carolina appropriators are meeting to make crucial decisions on the budget to facilitate a shorter legislative session. The legislative session does not begin until May 16, but the budget negotiations are likely to be over before the session has begun.

If live or work in the following counties, it is crucial that you take 5 minutes to call TODAY!

Cabarrus: Rep. Johnson
Cleveland: Speaker Moore
Duplin: Sen. Jackson
Forsyth: Rep. Lambeth
Gaston: Sen. Harrington
Guilford: Rep. Faircloth and Sen. Berger
Henderson: Rep. McGrady
Johnston: Sen. Jackson
Jones: Sen. Brown
Montgomery: Rep. Burr
Onslow: Sen. Brown
Rockingham: Sen. Berger
Sampson: Sen. Jackson
Stanly: Rep. Burr
Union: Rep. Arp
Wake: Rep. Dollar

Ask: Continue the growth we have seen in the state’s housing investment since 2013 by increasing the Housing Trust Fund to $10 million (from $7.66m) and the Workforce Housing Loan Program to $25 million (from $20m) in the short session.

You can find our updated County Profiles on our website. Share with them your perspective on the housing need in your community and why these investments are so crucial. This is all happening behind closed doors, and we need advocates in the room.

Tyran Hill, Local and Regional Policy Officer

Local Updates

Greensboro Housing Coalition Hurricane Relief

The United Way of Greater Greensboro said in a statement Thursday it has directed $64,000 from GSO Tornado Relief donations to the Greensboro Housing Coalition. The money will be used for immediate housing stability and rehousing for those impacted by the EF2 tornado that tore through east Greensboro, the United Way said. More than 1,000 buildings were impacted by the twister, including 37 that were destroyed and 162 that have major damage. The coalition is focusing first on helping those who lost their homes or whose homes were seriously damaged.

Raleigh City Council Funds Two Housing Projects

After an initial two week delay, Raleigh leaders voted to move forward with funding for two affordable housing projects, one in downtown and another in Southeast Raleigh. City council approved $3 million in city funds for 158 affordable housing units at the Sir Walter Apartments, at 400 Fayetteville St., and $4.6 million for 120 affordable units, off of Rock Quarry Road, for the Beacon Ridge project. The two projects approved involved city funding to keep the Sir Walter Apartments in downtown Raleigh as affordable housing for the elderly and to put affordable housing at the site of a joint YMCA and elementary school in Southeast Raleigh.