April is Fair Housing Month, a time to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful.
It is also a time to celebrate the efforts to remove inequities in housing, while acknowledging there is much more work to be done. While housing continues to be one of the City’s top priorities and challenges, we recognize that homeownership is becoming out of reach for many residents. The average median home price in Raleigh is approximately $381,000, which requires a six-figure income or large down payment for purchase. According to the National Association of Realtors, there is also a gap nationally in home ownership between Black (44 percent of total population) and white (72.7) homebuyers.
In the past year, Raleigh City Council took a long list of actions to support fair and affordable housing. With each action, a piece is added to the affordable housing puzzle, which involves community organizations, state and federal agencies, and city and county governments. Some of this year’s Council actions include:
- The approval of hundreds of affordable units, including the City’s first affordable cottage court development;
- Funding to preserve existing affordable units, working towards a goal of creating or preserving 5,700 affordable housing units by 2026;
- The approval of rezonings with conditions for construction of affordable housing units;
- Funding for an emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness;
- The sale of City-owned land to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County for one dollar for construction of townhome units for income-qualified, first-time homebuyers;
- Approval of $6 million to purchase land that is being developed for an affordable rental development, Parkside Apartments;
- Funding for continued improvements to an extended stay hotel, a naturally occurring affordable housing option; and,
- Gap funding for multiple affordable housing developments, which will ensure completion as construction costs continue to rise.
The City also provides a Homeowner Assistance Program which helps to bridge the homeownership gap. Administered by the Housing and Neighborhoods Department, the program offers zero-interest, deferred loans to help with down payment and closing costs, or a gap in financing. Applicants attend a home-buying course to be eligible for assistance. Last July the City and its partners hosted a Homeownership Information Fair at the Carolina Pines Community Center. The fair included homebuyer workshops to help prospective buyers navigate the complex homebuying process.
To celebrate Fair Housing Month, City Manager Marchell Adams-David will be joined by members of the City’s Fair Housing Hearing Board for a reading of a children's book. The event will be held at the Tarboro Road Community Center on April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon.
The City is also hosting a Fair Housing Training Seminar presented by the NC Fair Housing Project on May 8. This training is for City staff and members of other local agencies so they may have a better understanding of how fair housing intersects with their work.
The City of Raleigh is committed to working with its partners to address housing issues and strengthen neighborhoods. For more information, type “fair housing” or “affordable housing” in the search bar.
