At our Conference breakfast this year, I spoke about how crucial our members are to this work. We’ve been hard at work recently as both the United States Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly are in session taking up issues critical to affordable housing. You can read more about that in the Policy Updates (link). However, the work that we do is built on top of your deliberate work educating and building trust among stakeholders in your community. We cannot do this without you… we cannot do this without each other.
A few weeks ago, a number of our members were part of a ribbon cutting in Wilson for Ravenswood Reserve Apartments. Built by Otter Creek Partners and Norco Management Holding with financing from Boston Capital, Centrant Community Capital and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, this property will provide 60 affordable units for seniors with low-incomes. Stephanie Norris of Otter Creek said “creating housing that meets the true definition of “affordable” is what I have been called to do. It is what my parents have been doing their entire professional career, which spans more than 40 years. I am simply carrying on their legacy.”
This ribbon cutting was attended by Rep. George Holding and a representative of Senator Richard Burr’s offices. Not only do they both represent this district and the state, but both are on the committees that deal directly with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Not only did they have a chance to see an excellent example of an affordable housing solution, they were also able to interact with passionate and skillful professionals such as Stephanie. The relationships built through events like these are critical to the advocacy efforts when things move quickly during a legislative session.
Thank you to all of our partners who participated in this event and all of you who continue to host similar events across the state. Whenever elected officials show up, please let us know so we can highlight your work and follow up with the elected officials when they are in session.
