Affordable Housing

The 204th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina created a Bishop’s Committee on Affordable Housing. The Committee recently produced a curriculum and a guidebook to showcase successful housing programs in the Diocese and to suggest ways for all to get involved.

Download the curriculum

Download the affordable housing guidebook

Resources for Churches

Affordable Housing Stories

GET INVOLVED

Becoming Beloved Community—Good Homes for All
Four Steps to Make a BIG Difference

• Find the contact information for your representative: Representation - North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)
• Find housing data for your county: County Profiles – North Carolina Housing Coalition (nchousing.org),
• Fill in the name of your church and county and housing data in using the letter template below.
• Sign the letter with your name and address and email or print and mail.

Dear North Carolina Senator :

OR

Dear North Carolina House Representative :

The mission of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina is Becoming Beloved Community. I am a member of Episcopal Church and am committed to our community having good places for all to live.

[in our county, housing costs are higher than 30% of household income for ##### households I am especially concerned because of my personal experience helping people with housing problems. ]

Housing needs in North Carolina grow more serious by the day, yet our State’s successful affordable housing programs are badly underfunded.

There are proven programs with successful track records. We can do better in supporting them. In the upcoming State budget, please prioritize making major investments in the NC Housing Trust Fund and Workforce Housing Loan Program. These programs assist the most vulnerable populations in our State and provide gap financing for affordable rental developments.

I strongly urge you to support expanded affordable housing investment in the State budget. As always, thank you for your public service.

Sincerely,

ABOUT THE CRISIS

A clear crisis exists in affordable housing. North Carolina has a shortage of 200,000 apartments with rents that are affordable for extremely low-income families, who now pay a major portion of their income for rent. Even more tragically, there are more than 9,300 people experiencing homelessness. Housing costs are rising much faster than incomes.

The Bishop’s Committee believes it’s critically important for everyone, and in particular people of faith, to be informed and to know affordable housing is a vital part of infrastructure, every bit as much as roads and bridges. Without access to affordable housing, investments in transportation and infrastructure will fall short of creating vibrant communities. People will continue to live in cars and on the streets.

Research shows the shortage of safe, decent and affordable housing costs the American economy about $2 trillion per year in lower wages and productivity. The lack of affordable housing prevents lower-income households from moving to communities with better economic opportunities and makes it difficult for businesses to attract and retain the workers they need.

Like roads and bridges, affordable housing is a long-term asset that enables communities and families to thrive. Increasing the supply of affordable housing—connecting people to good schools, well-paying jobs, healthcare and transportation—will help more families climb the economic ladder and allow communities to meet their workforce needs.

Every dollar invested in affordable housing infrastructure boosts local economies by leveraging public and private resources to increase local tax dollars and support job creation and retention. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders estimates that building 100 affordable rental units generates $11.7 million in local income, $2.2 million in taxes and other revenue for local government, and 161 local jobs in the first year. Without adequate investment in affordable housing, the population growth and new well-paying jobs necessary for economic growth raises housing costs and displaces the current residents doing essential but low-wage jobs.

For more information about housing ministries in the Diocese, read the recent Disciple article, "A Safe and Dignified Home for All God's Children," or contact the Bishop’s Committee on Affordable Housing at [email protected]episdionc.org.