Leaders in the Triangle's major cities (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) must take steps to ensure that there are enough affordable housing units to accommodate the region's growing population.
Right now, Raleigh, the region's largest city, has about 32,000 affordable housing units for a city of nearly 459,000. Raleigh's city council has stated that they are prioritizing creating more affordable housing in the city. But, two major affordable housing units in the downtown area, Wintershaven and Sir Walter, were sold to private companies who say they won't renew their federal voucher program.
The average price of a home in the city shot up by $38,000 over the course of a decade and 45 percent of Raleigh renters are cost-burdened. The demand for affordable housing is there; about 8,000 people are on the waiting list for public housing and Section 8 vouchers.
Wake County officials have recognized the issue. On the county website, it states that affordable housing is a priority, and commissioners have approved loans for developing affordable housing options designed for the most vulnerable populations.
The issue became a lightning rod during this year's mayoral election. Charles Francis, a local attorney, pushed a narrative of the city needing more affordable housing in the election against incumbent Nancy McFarlane. The challenger stated that the city's current leadership wasn't doing enough to give residents more affordable housing options. Despite the staggering numbers indicating that Raleigh is getting more expensive, there are some things the City of Oaks can hang its hat on.
 Hear from those affected by the looming crisis. |
The scene in Durham almost sings to the same tune. There are new apartment complexes popping up in the downtown and Streets of Southpoint areas and plenty of residents that need to find an affordable place to live, but there aren't enough units. According to the CEO of the Durham Housing Authority, between 200 and 300 vouchers for Section 8 housing were available this summer, but the waiting list exceeded 6,500 people. But, again, there's a bright side. Durham consistently ranks among the top places to live nationally. About 70 percent of homeowners spend less than a third of their income on housing.
Over the summer, the Durham city council made a move to explore bringing a new affordable housing option to the downtown area, but it comes at a cost to the city. It would pay up to $199,500 to DHIC, Inc. and Self Help Ventures Fund, Inc. for pre-development costs of a new complex. The new units will be located next to the city's bus hub and would include at least 80 affordable units. If the project moves forward, construction could start in 2019.
Meanwhile, in the unassuming college towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, area leaders seem to be blowing smoke when it comes to bringing more affordable housing units to the Orange County. Shortly after pulling off a successful reelection bid, Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavalle said the town is working on affordable housing development with Orange County. The Town of Chapel Hill formed an affordable housing advisory council in 2011. But there hasn't been much activity since 2014 when it adopted the Affordable Rental Housing Strategy. There are 15 affordable housing units in Chapel Hill, but the average rental unit price, $935, is higher than the national average $928. The county's median home value, $272,600, is also higher than the national average, $178,600. For an area that's considered a small to medium-sized town (with a population of about 139,000), it's shocking to see that it costs more to own a home in Chapel Hill than the state capitol or Charlotte, where the population continues to inch closer to 1 million.
The Raleigh-Cary metro area is leading the state when it comes to population growth and it's in the top-20 across the country. More than 1.3 million people call our area home. Now, it's time to take care of its most vulnerable citizens.