Policy Update 1-11-23 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

NCHC Updates

We’re excited about 2023! This month is a packed one–we will be releasing our 2023 Policy Agenda and our updated County Profiles for all 100 counties in North Carolina. Stay tuned for more information about how to engage with us around our policy priorities and be a part of the NC housing movement!

Federal Updates

Congress reaches deal on FY23 Spending Package, Biden signs into law on December 29, 2022.
Congress ended up passing a FY23 Spending Package – 1.7 trillion omnibus, which Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022. The final spending bill contains $61.8b for HUD programs, which represents an $8.1b increase from FY22. Several programs received an increase in funding such as the Homeless Assistance Grants ($3.6 billion), Public Housing Operating Funds ($5.1 billion), Native American housing block grants ($787 million), Housing for Persons with AIDS ($499 million), Section 202 Housing for the Elderly ($1.08 billion), Section 811 Housing for People with Disabilities ($360 million), and fair housing programs ($86 million). Despite the increase in funding, the bill does not include the House’s proposed creation of 140,000 additional rental assistance vouchers but does provide 12,000 additional vouchers for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It also leaves out the tax extenders package, which would pair any expansion of LIHTC with needed reforms to ensure units created through the program are prioritized for households with the greatest need. Check out NLIHC’s analysis and budget chart. You can also visit their take action page to discover ways to engage with Congress around the continued and increased need for support and investment in housing.

After a historic 15 rounds of voting, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is elected speaker of the House.
The package of concessions he made to get votes includes $75B in cuts to the FY24 budget that will likely impact funding for affordable housing and other non-defense discretionary expenses.

State Updates

North Carolina General Assembly convenes January 11, 2023 to open the 2023 legislative session.
After the midterms, Republicans gained a supermajority in the State Senate and are only one vote shy of a supermajority in the State House. Practically, this means the Republican controlled NCGA will be only one vote shy in one chamber to override a Democratic Governor’s veto. Affordable housing is expected to be among the issues covered in the long session. During its opening day, Representative Tim Moore (R-NC 111) was elected speaker of the House again for a record 5th time. Senator Phil Berger was elected Senate President Pro Tempore for his seventh term.

Local Updates

Rutherford County Schools, County Governments, and Dogwood Health Trust partner on affordable housing using a former school building.
Rutherford County Schools, in partnership with Dogwood Health Trust and Rutherford County government, is exploring repurposing a former school building to create affordable housing to attract teachers to the area. A feasibility study found that the building could house 40-45 apartments and would cost $10-12 million.

Conversion of Ramada Inn into Permanent Supportive Housing began in Asheville last month.
Developers broke ground last month on the Ramada Inn conversion in Asheville. The project is expected to create 113 units of supportive housing. Previously, the City planned to convert the building into a high-access emergency shelter but ultimately voted not to pursue the project after community pushback and funding uncertainty.

Town of Mint Hill supports the Habitat Critical Home Repair Program.
Through a partnership with the Great Matthews Habitat for Humanity, the Town of Mint Hill recently allocated $25K towards the Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program, which offers no-cost repairs to qualifying homeowners in need with health and safety issues (electrical hazards, accessibility modifications, plumbing repairs, etc.)

$1.25 billion community endowment fund created by the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center awarded its first series of grants to several affordable housing efforts.
The $1.25b community endowment created by the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center recently awarded its first cycle of grants, which included significant funding for affordable housing in New Hanover County, including emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and critical home repairs. Significant investments include:

Good Shepherd Center – $250K for rapid rehousing program
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity – $200K for homeownership and critical repairs programs
Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries – $165K for affordable housing retention program
Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center – $100K for Housing Empowerment partnership
and many more

Events

[virtual] 2023 Housing Supply Symposium | Cohosted by Terner Center & Labs for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, & the National League of Cities, 1/12, 1 p.m.

[virtual and in-person] January Book Talk with Author Nicholas Dawidoff – “The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City” | NYU Furman Center and the Art for Justice Fund, 1/19 at 12 p.m.

[virtual] Appraisal Subcommittee hearing on appraisal bias | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1/24, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Register here.

[in-person] Housing Policy Forum 2023 | NLIHC 3/21-23, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Registration is now open.