NCCEH News and Updates

So what’s this all about?

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program, (NSP) established as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008,  is injecting over $3.9 Billion into states and communities dealing with the past and present rise in foreclosure rates.  $52 Million (and another $5.5 Million for Charlotte) is making its way to North Carolina.   Want to see more permanent supportive and transitional housing in your community?  The state Neighborhood Stabilization Program draft plan is out and awaits your comment.  This is your chance to support more affordable rental housing and supportive housing for people at the lowest income levels in your community.  25% percent of distributed funds have been targeted to those at 50% of area median income (AMI) and below.

Because this is special one time funding, it presents a unique opportunity to create new housing opportunities for currently homeless individuals.  Homeowners are not the only casualty of the current foreclosure surge.  Increasingly, those with the lowest incomes and fewest options are unable to find affordable housing in a crowded market.  Please submit comment on this draft plan before December 1 so you can make a difference.

What are some suggested comments?  

• The current funding guidelines state that the program should serve those up to 120% of AMI.  We think that ceiling should be lowered to 80% AMI, to focus help among those with the most critical need.  (An exception to this would be to keep the 120% ceiling in low-income neighborhoods.)

• Right now, using the money to “landbank”, or buy land for later development, is allowable only for the purposes of providing homeownership opportunities.  We think it should be expanded to include rental housing.

• Lengthen periods of affordability for rental housing.  Right now, depending on the amount of funding invested in rental projects, there are varying numbers of years that the property must remain affordable.  We think no matter what amount of NSP funding a project receives, there should be a minimum of 50 years that the property remain affordable.  This is in keeping with guidelines established by the recently passed National Housing Trust Fund.

Who accepts the comments?

Send all comments on the draft plan via email to Vickie Miller, CDBG Assistant Director by emailing vmiller@nccommerce.com–and make sure you comment by the December 1 deadline!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today applauded the Senate passage of S. 2162, The Veterans Mental Health Improvements Act of 2008.  The legislation includes a provision by Senator Burr to assist veterans at risk of homelessness by providing them with supportive services.

The legislation would also codify VA’s new travel reimbursement rate for certain veterans who drive to their medical appointments at VA. The rate was increased in January from 11 cents to 28.5 cents a mile by VA Secretary James Peake. By law, the deductible veterans must pay also increased in January by a proportionate amount. The legislation would reduce the deductible back to the 2007 level.

New figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this week suggest that North Carolina is no better off after the economic upturn of the last few years than we were before it.  Rates of poverty and health insurance insecurity increased from 2000 to 2007.  While 13.1 percent of North Carolinians lived below the federal poverty level ($21,200 for a family of 4) in 2000, some 14.3 percent are living below that level as of 2007.  The number of uninsured North Carolinians has jumped from 2000 to 2007 as well, up to 1.5 million from 1 million just 8 years ago.  Even more disturbing is that this is the first time the numbers haven’t shown some improvement after a years long period of relative economic prosperity and growth, leaving people living in poverty or without health insurance ill equipped to endure what is now an—yes I’m going to say it—economic recession. 

Levels of housing insecurity are rising across the state as people weather this recession, complete with rising numbers of foreclosures and an increase in North Carolinians in need of affordable rental housing.  Homelessness prevention has never been more critically important to plan for and implement in our communities.   

North Carolina legislators have proof in the numbers that economic growth alone—though vitally important—is not enough to lift so many among us out of poverty and provide them with living wages, affordable housing and health insurance that meets their needs.  Join us as we plan for and implement advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels that address the real needs of our most vulnerable populations going forward, and persuade your legislators to focus on these vitally important issues that desperately need their attention.

Together, we can change it.   

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On a sunny day in May, Senator Burr came to Raleigh to speak to advocates and elected officials from across the state, gathered at a luncheon at Marbles Kids Museum.  The luncheon was the kick-off event for the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Leadership Summit.

The senator’s message to those involved in ending homelessness was simple: Keep it up.  It’s an uphill, often complicated battle.  Keep it up.  Homeless people deserve opportunity and a supportive environment just like everyone else.  Keep it up.  The work that you are doing to combat these issues at the local level is making a difference.  Keep it up. 

In return, he offered to keep up his end of the bargain: championing and obtaining support for federal legislation that will impact the effectiveness of our work here in North Carolina.  Last week, good news from the Senate arrived that assured us he was in fact keeping it up back at work in Washington.  The Senate passed the Veteran’s Mental Health Improvement Act of 2008, which includes Burr’s Services to Prevent Veterans Homelessness Act.

Burr’s piece of legislation would:

·         provide supportive services to keep low-income veterans in permanent housing so they do not become homeless.

·         provide veterans with greater access to housing assistance, physical and mental health services, health insurance, and vocational and financial counseling. 

The improvement in investment and coordination of services is crucial for our state, because North Carolina is home to over 770,000 veterans and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that over 40,000 North Carolina veterans live in poverty.