Housing Questions for Municipal Candidates: 

-        What do you see as the biggest barrier to addressing the housing crisis in our region?

The biggest barrier we face is the shortage of affordable housing units, especially rental.  Over 50% of renters in the City of Wilmington are housing cost burdened.   People are paying more than they can reasonably afford for housing, putting them at risk for losing housing if any financial hiccup occurs.  The recently released Housing Needs Assessment, done for the City and County, estimates a 4,163-unit gap, over the next eight years, in rental housing for households earning less than $64,000 in the City alone.   

The new housing that is being built, both rental and owner, is not affordable to most working people.   With so many people moving here there is not enough new housing coming on-line to meet the demand.   That same Housing Needs Assessment estimates a need for 2,416 for-sale units in the next eight years.  Also, our older housing stock that is affordable is being lost to dilapidation. 

-        What is your opinion on the proposed $50 million bond initiative slated for the November 2022 election?

In order to close the gap/shortage in housing units that our working families can afford local governments need to assist private developers and non-profit groups to produce and rehabilitate housing in the City and the County.    Many other municipalities and some counties in North Carolina have shown that housing bonds can provide the capital needed to increase affordable housing and incentivize the private sector to produce housing that is affordable for our workforce. 

-        What specific housing policies and funding opportunities would you advocate for if elected? 

I don’t think there is one silver bullet solution to the housing problem.   I think the City has already made changes in policy and investment to increase access to and supply of housing for everyone in our community.   I support policies that provide gap financing, support housing for the homeless – permanent supportive housing.   I support policies that help private developers include workforce housing as part of projects, this is part of the City’s new LDC.   I support increased housing counseling and financial literacy for renters and homebuyers to help them avoid pitfalls, repair credit, and move forward to become homeowners.   I support rehabilitating existing housing stock and keeping families in communities where they have roots and support if they want to remain.   A multi-prong approach that includes partnerships with public, private, and non-profit sectors all working together is needed so that everybody has a place to call home in our City.