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 affordable housing guidebook
Affordable Housing Stories
Affordable Housing Stories: Gladys
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.
Governor Cooper has proposed major funding of $189 million for affordable housing in his proposed State budget for the new fiscal year. The Governor’s ideas include a sizable investment in the Housing Trust Fund, down payment assistance program for teachers and public safety staff, critical gap financing for rental development, and support services and rental assistance for persons with disabilities.
As the General Assembly shapes the State’s budget, I urge you to support affordable housing investments.
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.
Soon, Congress and the public will debate a proposed $2 trillion infrastructure bill called “The American Jobs Plan." The bill includes funding for the creation or preservation of 1.5 million affordable homes and apartments.
Each dollar invested in affordable housing infrastructure boosts local economies by leveraging public and private resources to lift resident earnings and local tax revenue, as well as to support job creation and retention. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders estimates that building 100 affordable rental homes generates $11.7 million in local income, $2.2 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments, and 161 local jobs in the first year.
For more information, go to www.whitehouse.gov and click on ”The American Jobs Plan."
If you agree that affordable housing is important, please email or call your members of Congress—both House and Senate—though www.Congress.gov and let them know.
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]
Regional Deacon
