Yesterday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners hosted a three hour work session devoted entirely to the issue of affordable housing. As Commissioner Jessica Holmes shared, this is unprecedented in the history of Wake County.
Check out this report on the current state of Latino housing in North Carolina. There are some major disparities and major demographic trends that will have significant impact in the state over the next generation.
Thanks to the News & Observer for a great op-ed, by Chapel Hill attorney James Bartow, on the limited range of options that municipalities in North Carolina have to promote affordable housing. The op-ed appeared on November 20.
Habitat for Humanity has long held a belief that all of God’s children (meaning absolutely everyone) have a right to simple, decent, affordable places to live. In heated up markets, affordability falls prey to the market and many are left out.
What a troubling report in this morning’s News & Observer, citing a 23% increase in the number of homeless students in Wake County public schools. 2,376 students! That’s enough to fill an entire high school! Please do all you can to help Habitat Wake provide affordable housing and let’s not wait until these kids finish school or drop out—the need is urgent!
In a recent study by the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found stark differences in life expectancies based on neighborhoods in which the subjects live. The variations come in surprisingly close proximity. In Washington, D.C., for example, life expectancy can vary by seven years just between one subway stop!
There are many factors in a person’s life expectancy and surely housing is a primary one.
At last evening’s Raleigh City Council meeting, Congregations for Social Justice, a local coalition of faith communities concerned about social justice in local issues, organized a large group of supporters to address the council around the need for action to ensure that affordable housing is provided in our growing and prospering city. I was proud to be a part of that group—event though I had to stand in the “overflow” room due to the large crowd in the council chambers.
As our area grows and prospers, housing becomes increasingly less affordable. This recent article in the Independent Weekly by Jane Porter captures the current debate within Raleigh City Council well. Pardon the strong-ish language of the headline, but we thought the content was well worth sharing.
