Courtney LaCaria
Housing & Homelessness Research Coordinator
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Last week’s blog mentioned some “ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” coming to the Building Bridges blog post, including the impending arrival of two new anchor posts. Today’s blog marks the release of the first of the two: the new “State of Housing” monthly update for Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
With a new look and format, this monthly update consists of two components: a high-level summary of the latest data and trends on housing instability, homelessness, and affordable housing; and a curated list of relevant housing-related news and research from the previous month. Together, these items are intended to keep all stakeholders in the community informed about both the challenges and solutions related to addressing the problems of housing instability and homelessness.
This week’s blog post describes the current state of housing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and what this means for the community.
WHAT HAS CHANGED? THE STATE OF HOUSING, THIS MONTH
This new format provides a high-high-level overview of the trends and latest numbers regarding the demand for affordable housing (which translates to housing instability and homelessness); and the supply of affordable housing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. More information, including other analysis and data, is provided available by clicking the links below.
The Trends:
- Homelessness continues to increase in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Since last month, the number of people experiencing homelessness rose by 125. Since November 2021, which was the last significant observed month-over-month decrease, homelessness has been steadily rising with an increase of 472 people. To read more about the trends, click here.
- Housing instability continues to worsen in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Since last month, the number of calls to NC 2-1-1 for housing and shelter assistance has increased by more than 300 requests, including for rental and mortgage assistance; help finding low-cost housing; and addressing landlord/tenant issues. This number is also more than 300 requests higher than this same period last year. To learn more, click here.
- The gap in affordable housing is growing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, especially for households earning the least income. According to data released last week, the Charlotte MSA is facing a shortage of 45,130 units for extremely low-income renters; the situation continues to trend in the wrong direction, as the gap is 3,207 units larger than this time last year. To read more, see the news summary below.
The Numbers:
Source: One Number (HMIS; updated March 31, 2022) and NC 2-1-1 Counts Service Requests (NC 2-1-1; March 1 – 31, 2022)
READ THIS: A CURATED LIST OF HOUSING-RELATED NEWS, POLICY & RESEARCH
This new feature offers a curated list of news, stories, data and research collected during the previous month that illustrate relevant challenges as well as solutions regarding housing instability, homelessness and affordable housing. All items are accompanied by a summary of what it is and why it matters; and links are provided to learn more information.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) Released “The Gap: 2022”
What it is: An annual report detailing shortage of affordable and available housing units in the United States. This year’s report also covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both demand for and supply of affordable housing units. Not surprisingly, the 2022 report shares that “no state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for the lowest income renters.”
Why it matters: This is one of the best available sources for both local (Charlotte MSA) and national data, context, and trends on the gap in affordable housing, especially for extremely low-income households (income is less than 30% of Area Median Income).
Charleston’s New Affordable Housing Dashboard
What it is: Last month, Charleston’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released a new online dashboard to track (and communicate with the public) the status and location of affordable housing projects. This includes projects that currently exists, projects that have been “proposed”, meaning they are active within the review and permitting process; and projects that are “committed”, but have not yet undergone the City’s review process. In addition, the Dashboard provides information about the affordability levels and the developer involved.
Why it matters: The Dashboard’s goal is to “increase transparency and collaboration around the creation of affordable housing in the City of Charleston,” which is essential to closing the gap in affordable housing. According to the City of Charleston’s housing plan, they need 16,351 more affordable housing units by 2030. The Dashboard also helps illustrate the progress (or lack thereof) on closing this gap.
New Research Published on Predictive Risk Modeling for Homelessness with Implications for Coordinated Entry & Housing Prioritization
What it is: Published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, “Predictive Risk Modeling to Identify Homeless Clients at Risk for Prioritizing Services Using Routinely Collected Data” and authored by Kithulgoda, Vaithianathan, and Culhane, this new study developed a “machine learning algorithm-based” predictive risk model. Using data already collected as part of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and another triage assessment, the model can successfully identify individuals who might experience multiple adversities in the future, including worsening mental health and physical health, criminal justice involvement, longer periods of homelessness, and lower achievement in education for children.
Why it matters: Because there are not enough permanent housing options (in any community), Continuums of Care (CoC) are encouraged by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prioritize those individuals who have the greatest needs for services as part of their Coordinated Entry system (Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Coordinated Entry Prioritization Policy can be found here.) The study found that the new PRM can better identify individuals who are at higher risk of facing future adversities compared to the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT). And the study notes that all Continuums of Care (CoCs) can use the same approach as outlined in the study.
2 Big Things in Mountain View, California leads to more affordable housing units
What it is: Mountain View, which is located in Santa Clara County, recently allocated its $80 million from the County’s “Measure A” Affordable Housing Bond ($950 million approved by votes in 2016 to develop 4,800 new affordable housing units) to four affordable housing developments; the remaining funding has been reserved for additional projects already in the pipeline. The four projects will create up to 372 affordable units, including units dedicated for extremely-low income households, individuals experiencing homelessness. One of the projects is a hotel conversion that will create up 67 affordable apartment units with 45 of them earmarked as supportive housing units. Mountain View is also piloting a guaranteed basic income initiative called the “Elevate MV” Program. The program will provide $500 per month for 12 months to 166 extremely low-income households with children.
Why it matters: The City of Mountain View has been working closely with the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing to develop a “batched approach” for affordable housing funding allocation that streamlines the funding negotiation process as well as provides greater financial clarity for the projects. The basic income initiative is another important tool to help close the gap between what housing costs and what households can afford, and also empowers households to choose how assistance can best meet their needs. The “Elevate MV” Program is part of a national study with other programs.
SO, WHAT
The issues of housing instability and homelessness continue to grow. Especially as pandemic-focused initiatives to stabilize housing come to an end. That’s not news for Charlotte-Mecklenburg (or the other communities around the United States). COVID aside, it’s been this way for a while; it’s getting worse; and, we have the data to prove it.
Luckily, we also have solutions to chart a new path forward. Communities like Mountain View, spotlighted above, are finding creative ways to do more by doing things differently (and collaboratively). Charleston hasn’t closed the gap yet but is using its new Dashboard to keep the broader community abreast of its progress. This, in turn, engages residents in the process. And new research on predictive modeling can help Continuums of Care better prioritize their existing resources for the households who most need it.
Reviewing the current state of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, including context and trends, is key to understanding the size of the problem that individuals and families in our community face. Scanning the country for initiatives, data points, research, and analysis provides ideas, food for thought, and support for the work that Charlotte-Mecklenburg must do to support these households in need. This new anchor post series, by blending these two, will help frame the issue and the possible responses, in order for Charlotte-Mecklenburg to provide A Home for All.
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Courtney LaCaria coordinates posts on the Building Bridges Blog. Courtney is the Housing & Homelessness Research Coordinator for Mecklenburg County Community Support Services. Courtney’s job is to connect data on housing instability, homelessness and affordable housing with stakeholders in the community so that they can use it to drive policy-making, funding allocation and programmatic change.
