Mary Ann Priester
Senior Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
On January 7, 2025 Mecklenburg County Community Support Services released the 2024 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness report. This annual report compiles the most recent data on housing instability and homelessness for Charlotte-Mecklenburg by synthesizing local, regional, and national data on the full housing continuum (from housing instability to homelessness to stable, permanent, affordable housing). The SOHIH report serves as a knowledge base for all stakeholders to inform policy and practice decisions, optimize resource allocation, plan integrated systems of care, and drive advocacy efforts. The report explores three key components of the housing continuum: housing instability, homelessness, and stable housing. This blog is the first in a series of three blogs will take a deeper dive into each of these components.
This blog post takes a deeper dive into the findings from the third and final theme: stable housing. It also shares examples of promising practices and what can be done locally ensure stable housing for all Mecklenburg County residents.
STABLE HOUSING
Stable housing refers to living arrangements that are affordable, decent, safe, secure, and consistent. It means having a living situation in which there is no risk of displacement or homelessness. Stable housing is crucial to physical and emotional well-being and economic security. It is necessary for individuals and households to thrive.
A lack of affordable housing and a living wage in Mecklenburg County contribute to housing instability. Housing subsidies, homeownership initiatives, and preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing facilitate local access to stable housing. These efforts help create stability for both renters and homeowners.
WHAT WE KNOW
- The number of available medium and long-term subsidies has increased. In the past year, we have seen an increase in the number of medium-term and long-term subsidies available in the community due to an additional 88 single site permanent supportive housing beds for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and 24 other permanent housing beds for vulnerable individuals and households ages 55 years and older.
- The gap for affordable housing is expanding renters making less than 30% of area median income. Recent housing affordability analysis by the City of Charlotte indicates that the estimated gap for affordable housing for households at <=30% AMI and 50% - 80% AMI is increasing but we are seeing decreases in the gaps for 31% - 50% and over 80% AMI.
- Preserving and constructing affordable units is a local priority. The Housing Trust Fund (HTF) has provided $240 million in gap financing for affordable housing since the Fund was established in 2001 resulting in 9,330 completed affordable units. In FY24, the HTF added 92 rehabilitated multifamily units to its list of completed projects.
In addition, there has been significant financial investments by both Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte to support the local housing continuum’s efforts to address housing instability and homelessness.
PROMISING PRACTICES: STABLE HOUSING
There are several key strategies that Charlotte-Mecklenburg should consider implementing to address the local affordable housing crisis.
Reform Land Use and Zoning Policies: Reduce or eliminate restrictive zoning policies that limit the construction of multifamily housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or affordable housing, increase density allowances to support higher density housing developments, and streamline and expedite the permitting process for affordable housing projects to expedite development.
Support Community Land Trusts, Land Banks, and Nonprofit Housing Development: Support the creation and expansion of Community Land Trusts and provide funding and technical assistance to nonprofit housing developers that focus on new construction or preserving naturally occurring affordable housing.
Promote Innovative Housing Solutions: Encourage and ensure zoning policy supports the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), support the use of modular or prefabricated housing to reduce construction costs and decrease the time needed to construct new or rehab existing affordable units.
Expand Public Housing and Cooperative Housing Models: Increase local investment in public housing projects and promote cooperative housing models that create long-term affordability and resident empowerment.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER
Stable housing is essential for individuals and families to achieve economic security, physical and mental well-being, and overall stability. The affordable housing crisis requires an approach that addresses both supply and demand issues. There is a growing gap in affordable housing for lower-income renters but ensuring residents have access to stable housing is a local priority that has resulted in increases in the number of local subsidies and financial investment in affordable housing initiatives. By exploring promising practices and addressing short-term needs while offering long-term solutions to increase the amount of affordable and accessible units, we can ensure that every person in Mecklenburg County has a safe, decent, and affordable home.
The 2024 SoHIH report and all complementary material can be found on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing & Homelessness Dashboard https://mecklenburghousingdata.org/state-of-housing-instability-homelessness-reports/
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